Focus groups as a research method: a critique of some aspects of their usein nursing research

Objective. To evaluate and critique reports in the nursing literature in th e period 1990-1999 of the use of focus groups as a research method. Methods. The articles were identified by a computerized search of the CINAH L database and subjected to critical review. Findings. The result of the search was that very few articles were found th at reported on a specific piece of research using the method. Methodologica l discussions were more common and these were sometimes at a somewhat super ficial level without analysis or critique. The largest category of articles was concerned with service development projects. The research-based articl es were found to be relatively unsophisticated in their use of the method, in particular in relation to data analysis and social interaction within fo cus groups. Terms such as 'content analysis' and 'grounded theory' were use d in nonrigorous ways and incompatibility between the underlying research a pproach and implementation of the method was identified in the cases of phe nomenology and grounded theory. Whilst selection of the focus group method was often justified in terms of the benefits that participant interaction c ould yield, this interaction was rarely reported or discussed in the articl es. One author proposed a scheme for analysing this type of interaction, an d this is recommended to future researchers as a possible framework for int eraction analysis. Conclusions. The article concludes by calling for more in-depth considerati on at the research planning stages of the underlying assumptions of methodo logical approaches that may be used to underpin focus group research and me thods to be used to analyse and report the data generated.