Focus Groups

A focus group is a particular type of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their opinions and attitudes towards an idea. Questions are asked in an interactive group set up where participants are free to discuss with other group members.

There are several differetn forms of focus group.

• A two way focus group is where one group watches another and discusses what they observe.
• In a dual moderator focus group, two moderators ensure all topics are covered.
• Whereas in dueling moderator focus groups, two moderators take opposite sides on the issue under discussion.
• In a mini focus group, only four or five people take part rather than the usual six to twelve.

Advantages:

• Being in a group setting allows group members to be influenced and prompted by the experiences and ideas of the other participents. This is known as the 'group effect.'
• Group members discover a common language to describe their experiences.
• Focus groups provide a setting where participants feel comfortable discussing issues.

Disadvantages:

• The interviewer does not have as much control over the situation as in a one to one setting. Time may be lost on irrelevant issues.
• Data is difficult to analyse because answers may be in response to the comments of other group members.
• The data obtained is not necessarily representative of the whole population.
• The questions are raised by the researcher which can question the data's validity.

Research

In our last session, we started to look at types of research and how we might go about finding relevant sources of information for our projects. It is important to get the balance right and to be aware of your personal opinion to ensure that bias does not get in the way of making an objective judgement. Using a wide range of sources will give more depth to the project, adding more value to the final conclusion.

 

Potential sources of information included:

• Questionnaires
• Interviewing – person
• Interviewing – e-mail
• Ethnography
• Participant observation
• Insider research
• Non-participant observation
• Focus groups
• Content analysis
• Case studies
• Newspapers
• Websites
• Government reports
• Books
• Journal articles
• Media programmes
• Leading institutions e.g. WHO

Research can be primary, research you conduct yourself, or secondary, research carried out by someone else. It can also be qualitative research, which incorporates words, opinions and ideas as opposed to quantitative research, which incorporates amounts and numbers. Proving your research is finding evidence to say that something is true whereas to evaluate research is to look at its benefits and disadvantages.

My Topic

      

        For my EPQ, I am planning on researching the effect of education on the development of countries and specifically, how far illiteracy can halt the development of a country, both in economic and social terms.

      I think this is a valid project as it focuses on important and current issues. I would like to apply my research to a number of different countries of varying incomes; some more economically developed such as the UK and America and some lesser. As I am going to the Gambia in February, I will be able to gain some firsthand experience of the economy there and our interaction with our sister school will give me some experience of the education system. This would provide me with a good experience to relate my findings to.  

      I believe this is a subject that people would be interested to learn more about and fulfils what I want to achieve as I want to challenge myself. I think that this topic provides an area which I have not yet had the chance to look into but also supplements my AS Level choices. At the moment I am not sure what form my final product will take. However, it is likey to be an essay in which I will put together my findings and conclusion.  

                                                            

      

        My interest in this topic stems from my AS Level study of Economics and English and also from my mum being a teacher. I recently watched a documentary on education in the UK with her and the main message given was that many children will leave primary school illiterate and innumerate as they struggle through without ever really grasping the concepts. I believe this is a big problem and will no doubt have an effect on their futures and the future of the UK as a whole.     

      Since I have begun to study economics this year, I have become increasingly interested in how economics is put to practical use in the real world. Something I would love to learn more about is development economics, the development process of a country’s economic system, which we do not cover on the course; I think the EPQ is the perfect opportunity for me to research this topic further. Development economics covers not only the economic side by looking at economic growth but also the social aspects by ‘improving the potential for the mass of the population’ for example, through health and education.  This is why I would like to research the link between rates of illiteracy and the development of a country.

"Upon the education of the people of this country, the fate of this country depends." -Benjamin Disraeli

The Golden Rules

• Review everything you do.
• Stay in contact with your supervisor.
• Arrange meetings with your supervisor.
• Complete research into your topic.
• Use blog to keep track of dates.
• Take advice on board.

Don't!

• Leave it too late.
• Make things too complicated.
• Stress.