INTERACTIVE FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEWING - A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHOD IN EARLY INTERVENTION

Focus group interviewing is an interactive method of conducting qualit ative research that has several potential applications in early interv ention. This article discusses qualitative inquiry and suggests a six- component process to guide focus group research. The six components ar e (a) formulate research questions, (b) select participants, (c) devel op protocol, (d) conduct focus groups, (e) analyze data, and (f) repor t the findings. This article presents practical suggestions for resear chers who use a qualitative paradigm to address research questions in early intervention.