Focus Group Research

This volume provides a thorough introduction to creating and conducting focus group research projects. Carey and Asbury provide background on the history of focus groups then document the best practices in conducting a study using them. They also provide valuable advice on how to conduct a fair and accurate analysis of minorities and other vulnerable groups within the population at large. This book is an excellent introduction for any researcher looking to utilize focus groups in their next project.

Martha Ann Carey's (PhD, RN) experience developing, implementing, and evaluating social science research-including focus groups-stems from her years of working with public health agencies such as the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Government Accountability Office. She continues to work with nonprofit organizations and mentor researchers through her work with Kells Consulting, a services research and training firm in Pennsylvania. Jo-Ellen Asbury (PhD) currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Psychology at Stevenson University where she heads the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Her current scholarship is focused in the areas of higher education assessment and program evaluation. Dr. Asbury also works as an independent consultant doing program evaluation work with non-profit agencies and educational institutions.