Drawing on the authors' thirty years of combined experience in the field, this authoritative, step-by-step guide to conducting focus groups features dedicated chapters on all aspects of the research process.

Loaded with real world research examples from across the social sciences, and learning features such as 'expert advice' and 'concepts and theories' boxes, as well as end of chapter exercises and further reading, this is the perfect manual for novice researchers who want to conduct a successful focus group.

Ivana Acocella is Lecturer of Sociology at the University of Florence (Italy). Since 2002, she has taught Methodology and Research Methods for the Social Sciences. She currently teaches Sociology of Migration and Qualitative Research. Her research focuses on epistemological and methodological assessment of qualitative research approaches.

Part 1 - What is a focus group?
Chapter 1: Outlining the focus group
Chapter 2: Dealing with ethical challenges
Part 2 - Planning and designing
Chapter 3: Designing a focus group research
Chapter 4: Mixing the focus group with other techniques
Chapter 5: Choosing and recruiting the focus group participants
Chapter 6: Designing focus group tools
Part 3 - Conducting
Chapter 7: Moderating the focus group
Chapter 8: Observing the focus group
Chapter 9: Running the focus group
Part 4 - Analysing and writing up
Chapter 10: Transcribing and analysing the focus group content
Chapter 11: Analysing the focus group relational and technical dimensions
Chapter 12: Interpreting and reporting the focus group results
Appendix - Tools
References