What is the definition of a "focus group" in qualitative research?

A focus group is defined as a guided discussion with a selected group of participants to gather diverse perspectives on a specific topic. This method is widely used in qualitative research to explore participants' thoughts, feelings, and experiences in an interactive setting. By bringing together individuals with relevant knowledge or experience regarding the topic, researchers can facilitate discussions that reveal common themes, divergent views, and nuanced insights.

The dynamics of the group setting often lead to participants prompting each other, which can uncover deeper insights than might be achieved through individual interviews or surveys. This approach allows researchers to collect in-depth data on how participants react to specific ideas or questions, making it particularly valuable for understanding complex issues.

In contrast, the other methods mentioned are focused on quantitative data collection or one-on-one interactions, which do not capture the richness of group dynamics and shared perspectives inherent in a focus group setting.