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Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Vol. 33, No. 5, 602-637 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0891241604266988

The Social Contexts of Focus Groups

Jocelyn A. Hollander

University of Oregon

This article argues that focus group discussions are shaped by multiple social contexts, a fact that is often ignored by researchers. Using data from a focus group study of the effects of violence on everyday life, this article provides an analysis of four such contexts: the associational, status (especially gender), conversational, and relational contexts. These multiple and overlapping contexts foster both problematic silences (lack of disclosure) and problematic speech (strategic shaping of comments) in group discussions. These processes limit the usefulness of focus groups as a tool for understanding individual thoughts, feelings, or experiences. However, they make focus groups an excellent site for analyzing the processes of social interaction. The article concludes with suggestions for improving the implementation and interpretation of focus groups in light of this analysis.

Key Words: focus groups • methodology • interaction • violence


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