Focus group as a research strategy

Abstract

The focus group technique was born in the United States after World War II as part of the methods and techniques of social research, to strengthen the critical approach and promote the collective and participatory construction of knowledge. This must be used in a planned manner, following a discussion guide, as well as the selection of participants and the context where it is applied, with the help of a moderator who is able to compile in a systematized way and using various techniques and tools the information collected in each of the sessions to ensure the reliability and validity of the data collected. This academic exercise responds to a descriptive and documentary research, which tries to answer what are Focus Groups and what are their most relevant characteristics?, with which we propose to reflect at a theoretical and practical level on this important research technique.