Joking, being aggressive and shutting people up: the use of focus groups in LIS research

Abstract

While focus groups are a frequently-used research method in other disciplines, they are still something of a novelty in library and information studies, particularly in the UK Scanning the LISA I database (in December 1996) there are only 43 references to focus group and most relate to US studies. Often, focus groups are seen as a way of obtaining views on the research subject prior to the investigation proper. This paper will argue, however, that focus groups have great potential as the principle data-gathering method. This paper will discuss: what focus groups are; why focus groups should be considered an appropriate research tool in library and information services; the advantages of using focus groups; the practicalities of running a focus group session; and the type of data generated in focus groups and methods of analysis. It is concluded that focus groups are a valuable research method which simultaneously gives participants a social space in which they can voice their concerns, while allowing the researcher/moderator to control (to whatever extent) the discussion.