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 stems from her years of working with public health agencies of the US government including 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. Her pragmatic approach to research design and her education in qualitative and quantitative research methods were put to use in academia where she taught research design and qualitative methods courses in doctoral education and nursing programs, and served as an investigator for federally funded grants. Her international work includes presentations and qualitative research workshops. Dr. Carey was the first fellow at the International Institute of Qualitative Methodology, in Edmonton, Canada, supported by a US Public Health Services International Fellowship Award in 1998. 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 Associate 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. Previously she was a professor of psychology at Bethany College where she also served two terms as chair of the Psychology Department and two years as Director for Faculty Assessment. Her scholarship focused primarily on domestic violence in families of color and focus groups as a methodological approach. Dr. Asbury also served on the faculty of the College of Wooster. In addition to her academic positions, she has worked at the Army Research Institute and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Dr. Asbury also works as an independent consultant doing program evaluation work with non-profit agencies and educational institutions.