Focus groups - main determinants and application possibilities

Abstract

A focus group is a 90–120-minute semi-structured conversation between 7-12 participants selected according to some relevant characteristics. The main purpose of the focus group is to determine the attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences, and reactions of the participants in a way that is not achievable using other methods. The paper presents a comprehensive overview of the basic features of the focus group as a qualitative research method and an analysis of their application with an emphasis on application in education research. The paper, in addition to theoretical analysis by reviewing the relevant literature, provides a critical review and recommendations for further research on this issue, which contributes to clarifying the purpose and encouraging the application of the focus group method.