This chapter covers an interview style consisting of a moderator leading a group of people in discussion on topics related to a research topic involving beliefs, impressions, and emotional concerns. The focus groups interview method is especially useful in research of topics that are unusually hard to explain. The unique effect of the group dynamics ability to build upon and offer each individual contribution to formulate these explanations can be best understood using symbolic interactionist theory. It is important for the moderator or facilitator to guide these groups as the interactions can be dominated and even derailed if not properly handled. A small group is easier to control, and a skilled moderator can effectively retrieve the desired data from seven people with ease. When a symbolic interactionist approach to the focus group is applied it is easy to understand larger groups are subject to group think which threatens the validity of the information provided due to subgroup pressure. Moderator’s observations of the interactions between group members adds to the data collected from the cross-conversation. Negotiation, confrontation, and collective decision processes. The group members offer support when attempting to explain, justify, and rationalize topics not easily communicated. Focus group interviews present a useful tool for my research project which entails describing personal experiences of meditation practices of participants. I imagine the data that needs to be collected will be easier to convey among a group of people who are unrelated yet use the same mindful meditation techniques. It will be interesting to see how similar or dissimilar the accounts of different practitioners will prove to be. Triangulating this with semistructured interviews and direct observation I believe the focus group will most likely provide clarity on for any confusion from the research questions. Interactions in the group facilitate deeper emotion and enable extreme reactions not usually available in one-on-one interviews but can make more work for the investigator. Transcribing the interview with seven people to observe including body language and nonverbal clues will usually require two people to record and take notes in a session. Analysis involves searching for themes and patterns that are presented in a series of at least five different focus groups. In the text there is mention of the “ideal focus group” by David Morgan (2002, p. 148). The flow of the “ideal focus group” is discussed and how instead of being probed a second question would be approached by one member saying, “You know what really strikes me is how many of the things we’re saying are connected to….”, this group collaboration is the ultimate desired outcome.
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