Research investigating patterns of intergenerational risk taking has produced evidence of increased risk taking of female adolescents compared with their mother's generation and a reduction in the traditional gap between levels of teenage male and female risk taking. The research is part of a larger, multistage project on factors affecting…

This paper starts from the premise that teachers' discourse communities influence how ideas for reform are implemented. In order to understand some of the discourse surrounding the reforms proposed by GAISE, an online focus group activity was conducted. The focus group consisted of pre-service and practicing teachers responsible for teaching…

Consistent with results of previous needs assessments for urban American Indian and Alaska Native populations, a needs assessment in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area for the Native American Rehabilitation Association Northwest revealed high levels of co-occurring conditions for American Indian and Alaska Native clients, often combining…

Explores the relationship between population growth, development, and water resources to glean insight for environmental education campaigns. Reports high awareness and moderate concern about rapid growth and development, dissatisfaction with water resource quantity and quality, and varied water management strategies among consumers. (Contains 37…

Examines the validity and reliability of focus group methodology from three perspectives: radical-hermeneutic, moderate interpretive, and realistic. Describes a survey of researchers in four European projects using focus groups and describes the strengths and weaknesses of the method. (Contains 48 references.) (SK)

Emerging community issues and concerns were identified in focus groups of 104 Defiance County (Ohio) citizens and survey responses from 180 of 380 households. The research demonstrated the usefulness of capacity assessment as a participatory process in which community members are actively involved in identifying community assets as well as…

Describes aspects of participatory action research and considers advantages of using participatory action research in research by disabilities and rehabilitation researchers. Notes that participatory action research can be built into any rehabilitation research design but that it rests upon the recognition of persons with disabilities as integral…

The themes for a community-based nursing curriculum in a Hawaii project emerged from focus groups with multisectoral representation. Although the method was highly resource-intensive, it generated rich data and kept the voices and intentions of participants at the forefront. (SK)

Results of college student focus groups concerning opinions about drinking are discussed. Issues discussed include: student choice, negative effects of drinking, personal safety, assault, freshman and sophomore drinking, alcohol education, and transportation. Limitations of the study are also discussed. (Author/MKA)

This qualitative study assessed clients' participation in organizational decision making in a public long-term psychiatric hospital. Numerous examples were found in which clients meaningfully participated in the decision-making process and achieved favorable policy changes. Three means of involving clients were found to be especially useful: (1)…

Transition models include components of student self-determination during transition planning meetings. Researchers acknowledge that cultural identity may influence both transition decisions and self-determination strategies. Yet the appropriateness of these approaches for culturally and linguistically diverse students with learning disabilities…

The issue of boundaries between professionals and individuals/families is well documented within the clinical fields of counseling and social work but not thoroughly investigated in special education. Because maintaining quality relationships between families and educators is important, the development of appropriate guidelines requires a thorough…

Advocacy is an integral component to effective school counseling. Using focus group methodology with nine school counselors, this qualitative study examined how current school counselors define advocacy and how and when school counselors advocate on behalf of individual students. Further, this research also explored how school counselors have…

The paper reports a study for determining a suitable process for converting traditional surface science courses into case-based learning ones in two universities in Hong Kong. In this preparative study, a set of baseline data was collected on the current level of students' conceptual understanding and also students' perceptions about the…

In this study, the authors report on their research into the inquiry component of a newly conceptualized pre-service teacher education program. In a series of focus group discussions conducted over a 3-year period, 17 teacher candidates talked about their understanding of, and their experiences with inquiry. They were able to identify benefits…