Focus groups can provide rich, thick descriptions of experiences, attitudes, and opinions shared by a group of individuals who have in common a shared experience about the phenomena you are studying.

Review the resources in the course and online about the challenges, advantages, and disadvantages of using focus groups as part your research methods. Consider if, for your topic, whether a focus group would be a good choice for data collection.
For this Discussion, you will explore the differences between individual interviewing and focus groups.
To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the Learning Resources related to coding, data analysis, and focus groups.
Review the focus group media program found in the Learning Resources and consider how you might use a focus group in collecting data for the topic of your research.

 ASSIGNMENT 
Post your explanation of:

The difference between collecting data using individual interviews and a focus group (e.g., intent, selecting participants, conducting the interview or focus group)
Given the topic you are currently using for your research, would you consider using a focus group for your study? Why or why not?

Be sure to support your main post and response post with reference to the weeks Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA style.

 
Required Readings
Saldaña, J. (2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Chapter 1, An Introduction to Codes and Coding (pp. 1“42) (previously read in Week 5)
Chapter 2, Writing Analytic Memos About Narrative and Visual Data (pp. 43“65) (previously read in Week 5)
Rubin, H. J., & Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Chapter 12, Data Analysis in the Responsive Interviewing Model (pp. 189“211) (previously read in Week 5)
Ravitch, S. M., & Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Chapter 7, An Integrative Approach to Data Analysis (pp. 215“236) (previously read in Week 5)
Chapter 8, Methods and Processes of Data Analysis (pp. 237“270) (previously read in Week 5)
Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Dickinson, W. B, Leech, N. L., and Zoran, A. G. (2009). A qualitative framework for collecting and analyzing data in focus group research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods and International Institute for Qualitative Methodology. (pp. 1-21).
Document: Excel Video Coding Document Template (Excel spreadsheet) (previously used in Week 5)

Review this Excel template as you view this weeks media programs related to