A brief teaching note on the comparison of data gathering strategies of focus group and structured research interview

A brief teaching note on the comparison of data gathering strategies of focus group and structured research interview (information from perplexity.ai)

My question: "Briefly compare the data gathering strategies (e.g. recruitment of participants, sample size, etc.) of the research methods of (1) focus group and (2) structured research interview with reference to 4-month MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects."

The reply: "To provide a concise comparison of data gathering strategies for (1) focus groups and (2) structured research interviews with reference to 4-month MBA and Housing Studies dissertation projects, let's summarize key differences in participant recruitment, sample size, and approach:

Focus Group

• Recruitment: Usually purposive or convenience sampling targeting a small group of participants relevant to the research theme.

• Sample Size: Typically small groups of 6-10 participants per group to encourage interaction and discussion.

• Data Nature: Group-based interactive discussion to generate diverse perspectives and insights on a topic.

• Application: Suitable for exploratory phases to understand group norms, attitudes, and dynamics.

• Example: In the user's Housing Studies and MBA dissertation projects, focus groups had six participants plus a moderator, indicative of typical small size and moderated group interaction.

Structured Research Interview

• Recruitment: Can involve purposive, quota, or snowball sampling to select individuals specifically relevant to the research questions.

• Sample Size: Usually fewer participants than surveys but more than single case studies, often ranging from a small number (e.g., 6-15) for qualitative depth, or larger for mixed-methods.

• Data Nature: One-to-one, question-driven data collection with a fixed sequence of questions to ensure consistency and replicability.

• Application: Appropriate for gaining in-depth individual insights or when clarity and structure are necessary.

• Example: Structured interviews in MBA dissertations often focus on key stakeholders or experts, collecting rich qualitative data that complements quantitative elements.

Summary Table

 

 

Aspect	Focus Group	Structured Research Interview
Participant Recruitment	Purposive/convenience for group	Purposive/quota/snowball for individuals
Sample Size	Small groups (6 participants typical)	Fewer individuals, often 6-15 in qualitative context
Data Collection Mode	Group discussion	One-on-one, fixed question sequence
Goal	Explore collective views, dynamics	Obtain consistent individual responses
Suitability	Exploratory, thematic generation	In-depth, structured qualitative or mixed methods

 

This comparison aligns with typical practices in MBA and Housing Studies dissertations where focus groups capture group-level insights and structured interviews provide reliable, individual qualitative data within a limited project timeframe such as 4 months."

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