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Focus Group Research

The Role of Cacophony in Dialogical Democracy

Nottingham University, UK,gary.winship{at}nottingham.ac.uk

Julie Repper

This article considers the philosophical underpinnings that have shadowed the emergence of focus group methods as a counterpoise to positivist research design. Examples of the application of focus group methods are drawn from two studies where the voices of marginalized groups were facilitated: 1) focus groups with patients diagnosed with personality disorder; and 2) focus groups with gypsy travellers. In both groups there were varying degrees of coherence in communication although particular attention here is paid to the role of dissonance and `negative dialectics' in the formation of opinion. Data generation in focus groups is considered in relation to group size, structure and clinical techniques.

Key Words: focus group • focus group research • cacophony • dialogical democracy • group conversation

Group Analysis, Vol. 40, No. 1, 125-139 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0533316407076126


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