Focus Group

INTRODUCTION commission root word is a qualitative technique utilise mostly in marketing seek and as well as opposite areas of research. This technique is utilisationd to collect primordial entropy. This enter consists of information active focalise assort. The main objective of this assignment was to ask how digest gatherings techniques are employ to collect primary selective information ab by the phenomenon at hand in the real world. The research order used was Google scholar for schoolman journals.The c adenylic acidus library informationbase was also used for more academic journals and textbooks from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) dissimilar libraries. The main problem experienced in the close of this document was that most textbooks almost this studied topic were outdated in the authors c axerophtholus. Hence, different c ampereuses of NMMU were visited and the right textbooks were found. This document presents a brush up of the lite rature on focus meetings. It continues with an empirical muse on organisational decomposition in secondary schools.Also included, is the reference list of all cited sources as tumesce as an annexure. 2 focalization GROUPS In the collection of primary data there are two research methods that puke be of use, quantitative and qualitative methods, which cigarette both be subdivided into idiosyncratic primary data collection methods. Because the main focus of this document is on focus groups, hence only qualitative techniques leave behind be menti aned which are in-depth interviews, projective techniques and focus groups. Seymour (200404) defines focus groups (F.G) as group of interacting individuals having some common interest or characteristics, brought together by a moderator, who uses the group and its interactions as a way to enlighten information about a specific or focused wages. This technique has been utilised in m some(prenominal) fields to collect primary data as menti iodined above and its characteristics are discussed in the following parting. 2. 1 CHARACTERISTICS OF FOCUS GROUPS When F. G are considered to be used in a certain research study then there are characteristics which beget to be taken into account, which are group surface, group composition, physical setting, moderator, enter tools and length f group password. Below it is a detailed appraise on each of the above menti angiotensin converting enzymed characteristics of F. G. 2. 1. 1 crowd size When find to embark on F. G one has to think about the size (number) of that certain F. G. Despite the confusion that crapper be created by different sources stating a different number of possible group sizes. The research of F. G rout out be undertaken with a group of 4- 12 tidy sum (Tong, Sainsbury & Craig 2007351). Large F. G group size can jeopardise the password as it may be difficult to handle the word, even so the group size depends on the complexity of the research s tudy. . 1. 2 Group composition After the group size had been decided then the group composition mustiness be considered as well. All bring outicipants taking part in a F. G must be homogeneous in the interest of the studied phenomenon (Malhotra & Birks 2006160). Participants with similar characteristics, which the study is about, make the handling easier and nicely flowing. 2. 1. 3 Physical setting When choosing the venue to carry out a F. G it is imperative that the chosen venue must also meet the aspects of the phenomenon at hand and of the participants.Daymon and Holloway (2002194) state that choosing the right environment for tralatitious focus groups mulcts a vital role as it can reap freely expressed opinions from the participants. 2. 1. 4 Moderator In the success of F. G moderators play a vital role. It is of crucial role that moderators in F. G follow the environment safe so participants can freely express their opinions and most importantly must use probe question s such requires a colossal experience from the moderator (Hague, P. , Hague, N. & Morgan 200453).Therefore, the moderator ought to possess skills such as creating chemistry with the participants, documentation the flow of the discussion and analysing the data collected. 2. 1. 5 Recording tools No psyche can be able to cram exactly a discussion of over 20 minutes by his head some minds will certainly be missed. Wiid & Diggines (200990) express that sessions should preferably be preserve (both visual and audio) so that the researcher can review the sessions later in order to gain raise insights.These tools therefore, assist to keep the already accomplished pauperizationed data and the data that the moderator was unaware of during the discussion. 2. 1. 6 Length of group discussion When planning F. G it is essential to plan the duration scarce as it may play an impact on the data collected. However, proficient like group sizes, length of F. G depends on the complexity of the growth at hand. The more complex of the issue is the more the duration of the discussion is required, only if so then breaks must be taken in between to let the participants to enliven and produce successful F. G (Malhotra & Birks 2006161).While on the hand, Seymour (200405) being unambiguous reveals that most focus groups encompass 90 minutes to three hours of discussion. With the above discussed characteristics of F. G considered, then one has to scrutinise the advantages and disadvantages of F. G. The following section discusses the advantages and disadvantages of F. G. 2. 2 ADVANTAGES F. G has its own advantages which can attract this technique to be used. These advantages are discussed individually beneath. Cost- because discussions are through with(p) simultaneously then it reduces the cost (Wiid & Diggines 200991).Speed- because a number of individuals are being interviewed at the same time, data collection and analysis proceed speedily (Gerber-Nel, Nel & Ko tze 2003104). Synergy- a discussion with a number of participants can also be of help by generating more information than private interviews (University of Toronto UT 200202). Snowball- Malhotra & Birks (2006162) state that a bandwagon effect often operates in a group discussion in that one persons shine triggers a chain reaction from the other respondents.In elaboration, a comment from one of the participants may reveal an idea to some other participant(s). Scientific scrutiny- because the moderator is also in the venue of discussion with participants, it also gives the moderator the opportunity to also adopt (Malhotra & Birks 2006162). However, disadvantages investigated by the author are more than the mentioned above but the above mentioned are those anticipated as most important. 2. 3 DISADVANTAGES focussing groups have advantages which can jeopardise the collected data or the data collection process itself.These advantages are explained below. Misjudgement- Gerber-Ne l et al (2003104) utter that results are misinterpreted imputable to bias. Non representative sample- because of the small number of participants in total as compared to quantitative, therefore participants in F. G cannot represent any population (Wiid & Diggines 200991). Inconclusive results- the results of F. G only retort to what but not wherefore which can sometimes make the narrow and create a need for a quantitative research study (Gerber-Nel et al 2003104).Difficulty in analysing- this method mostly consists of words which make it more difficult to analyse (Grudens-Schuck, Allen & Larson 20049). 2. 4 WHEN TO USE FOCUS GROUPS With the above discussed sections it is also vital for one to know when to utilise F. G. Focus groups are mostly used to discover behaviour, perceptions, attitudes and processes (Hague et al 200450). These traits that F. G are used to discover which responds to the question of when to use focus groups? , which in respond will be, F.G can be used in stand alone method, supplementary to a survey and as a part of multi method design (Daymon & Hollower 2002188). The following section will discuss the use of F. G in the study of organisational degeneration in secondary schools in Turkey and the information provided is based on annexure A. 3 FOCUS GROUP STUDY ON ORGANISATIONAL CORRUPTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANKARA In Turkey after it was seen that the aim of corruption in secondary schools is high, it was then seen important that a study on this problem should be undertaken.The moderator and his assistant decided to use F. G study to identify the perceptions of teachers in capital of Turkey (a city in Turkey). The group sizes of the study were eight and nine respectively, which in total consisted of 17 participants (12 males and 5 females). These participants were chosen due to homogeneous attributes meeting the studied problem, because this study is about secondary schools therefore the participants were critically recruit ed due to their profession of teaching. Thereafter, the moderator and his assistant held the F. G in a cosmopolitan city of Turkey known by the name Ankara.Apaydin & Balci (2011821) state that in the study audio and video recording recordings were taken informed consent. Which helped to later on even make information shared which the researchers were not aware of. The duration of each focus group was 90 minutes, which the researchers felt the time it was the right time, for each group discussion. The fact that F. G were held do it less costly for this study than any other possible study because a large number of people participated in this study at a time which also made it quite quicker.Some points in this study were raised up by supplement or revealing of another idea by some other participants comment. On the other hand, the researchers also saw that because at first the participants were suppose to represent secondary schools of Turkey as a nation then later converted to the cosmopolitan city Ankara but still the researchers saw that the number of total participants is quite trivial to represent such large population. On the findings of this study it was seen of importance that further study should be carried out on different groups so the findings can be generalised. CONCLUSION This study has been a great study which can be improvised in a way. Such way is that the researchers must carry on with the focus groups and compare findings, if even after some(prenominal) discussions same findings are gathered then it would be a point where the findings can be generalised for the secondary schools in Ankara. REFERENCE key out Apaydin, C. & Balci, A. 2011. Education. Organizational Corruption in Secondary Schools A Focus Group Study, 131(4)818-829. Daymon, C. & Holloway, I. 2002.Qualitative research methods in public relations andmarketing communications. capital of the United Kingdom Routledge. Gerber-Nel, C. , Nel, D. & Kotze, T. 2003. Marketi ng research. Claremont New African Books. Grudens-Schuck, N. , Allen, B. L. & Larson, K. 2004. Focus group fundamentals. Methodology Brief 9. Hague, P. , Hague, N. & Morgan, C. 2004. Marketing research in pull A guide to the basics. London Kogan Page. Malhotra, N. K. & Birks, D. F. 2006. Marketing research An utilize approach. 2nd rev ed. Harlow Prentice Hall.Seymour, A. 2004. Focus groups. An Important Tool for strategic Planning1-32. Tong, A. , Sainsbury, P. & Craig, J. 2007. International journal for quality in health care. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) a 32-item Checklist for Interviews and Focus Groups, 19(6)349-357. University of Toronto. 2002. The health communication unit. Using Focus Groups, 021-59. Wiid, J. & Diggines, C. 2009. Marketing research. Cape townsfolk Juta. ANNEXURE A ORGANIZATIONAL CORRUPTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS A FOCUS GROUP STUDY