Argues that focus groups provide users with valuable qualitative data not readily obtained with any other data-collection technique. Describes the focus-group process, including participant selection, moderator role, phases of the process, and advantages and disadvantages. Suggests ways that business communication instructors can incorporate the…

Focus groups with 42 primary care physicians revealed their interests and needs for continuing education. Similar interests were displayed among four specialties: family physicians, internists, pediatricians, and obstetricians/gynecologists, as well as significant overlap of opinions and ideas. (SK)

Edible Connections is a public forum intended to facilitate dialog on food system issues. Media representatives are participants, and the focus is on solutions to local food system issues and problems. (Contains 22 references.) (JOW)

Twelve focus group discussions on attitudes toward tattoos, health beliefs, and awareness of the long-term consequences of tattooing and stigmatization were conducted with 80 volunteers, 6 to 17 years of age. Attitudes toward tattoos were generally negative, although a more favorable attitude toward small tattoos was discernible among early…

This 1997 study explored in depth the views and experiences of women with breast cancer concerning disease-related mass media information. Results of focus group discussions indicate advantages and disadvantages of mass media information, and its impact upon individuals may depend on their disease status. Suggests implications for mass media…

In focus groups 10 graduates of a distance education master's in nursing program discussed the degree's impact on their careers and the importance of personal support in completing the program. Distance education enabled them to remain based in their communities, improving access to health care and raising community awareness of the role of…

Focus groups were conducted to examine college students' (N=74) perceptions of the accuracy of a university's recruitment materials. Some of the materials used a structured approach while others used a semi-structured approach. Both approaches elicited comparable information, but the structured approach led to greater involvement by quiet members,…

Focus groups with 30 participants in a residential adult learning program identified descriptive themes of the experience: building relationships, learning, and individual change. Two overarching themes distinguished the phenomenon: detachment (physical and psychological isolation for the world) and continuity (uninterrupted learning). (SK)

Reports on the theory-driven evaluation of a drop-in center for youth that incorporates a literature search, concept mapping with staff, and focus groups with youth. Findings show strong agreement among the three data sources about critical program components. Discusses implications of a theory-driven approach. (Author/SLD)

This qualitative study explored the attitudes of 75 students at two metropolitan universities in focus groups that examined students' collegiate experience, and developed a theoretical model of student satisfaction comprised of three primary constructs: landscape (attitudes related to student understanding of college success), geography (attitudes…

Discusses knowledge management that seeks to minimize information overload in order to enhance performance. Highlights include the differences between data, information, and knowledge; the relationship between learning, knowledge, and performance; the use of focus groups; documenting results; and knowledge classification. (LRW)

Focus groups and a mailed questionnaire obtained the opinions of 31 cooperating agricultural education teachers on the importance of core areas of student teaching. A well-rounded program emphasizing instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and youth leadership activities rated highest. Use of focus group/survey methods for such research…

The Solo often is regarded as one of the most influential components of a wilderness experience program. This paper is the culmination of three researchers' work related to the wilderness Solo experience and intentional solitude. The Solo experiences studied were Montreat College's Discovery Wilderness Program and Wheaton College's High Road…

The aim of this study is to explore students' perceptions of e-learning in a large undergraduate accounting class environment. E-learning technologies are increasingly widespread; however, they are often employed for technology's sake rather than directed by a pedagogic rationale. This study explores e-learning technology from the student's…

Purpose: We describe the development of a 24-hr curriculum for nonclinical direct care workers in elder care that features active-learning strategies and consumer-directed approaches. Design and Methods: Our curricular design was based on adult education theory and a survey of 70% of the community's service providers. Training was completed by 88…