Machine generated contents note: 1.Introduction: Focus Group History, Theory, and Practice -- Border Crossings: The Behavioral Science Origins of Focus Groups -- Contributions From Sociology and Social Psychology -- Contributions From Clinical Psychology -- Contributions From Marketing Research -- Separation of Practice From Theory -- Focus Group Theory -- Focused Research -- Group Interactions -- In-Depth Data -- Humanistic Interview -- Purpose of the Book -- Plan for the Book -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 2.Group Dynamics and Focus Group Research -- Influences of Intrapersonal Factors and Individual Differences -- Demographic Factors -- Physical Characteristics -- Personality -- Interpersonal Influences -- Group Cohesiveness -- Group Compatibility, Homogeneity/Heterogeneity -- Social Power -- Group Participation and Nonverbal Communication -- Environmental Influences -- The Material Environment -- Territoriality -- Spatial Arrangements -- Interpersonal Distance --

Contents note continued: Moderated Groupings of Strangers -- Group Dynamics in Cross-Cultural Focus Groups -- Interpersonal Style and Communication Pattern -- Nonverbal Communication -- Social Power -- Group Compatibility, Homogeneity, and Heterogeneity -- Environmental Influences -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 3.Focus Groups and the Research Toolbox -- Focus Group Basics: Structure, Process, and Data -- Place -- The Moderator -- Topics -- Analysis -- The Role of Focus Groups Among Research Tools -- Applications, Advantages, and Limitations -- Applications of Focus Groups -- Advantages of Focus Groups -- Limitations of Focus Groups -- Steps in the Design and Use of Focus Groups -- Problem Definition -- Identifying the Participants -- The Moderator and Interview Guide -- The Interview -- Analysis and Interpretation -- Some Practical Considerations -- The Logistics of Focus Groups -- Institutional Review Boards -- Conclusion -- Review Questions --

Contents note continued: 4.Recruiting Focus Group Participants and Designing the Interview Guide -- Establishing the Research Agenda -- Recruiting Participants -- Making Contact -- Incentives -- Location -- How Many Participants? -- Recruiting Hard-to-Reach Individuals -- The Language of the Group -- Recruiting Participants Across Cultures -- Developing the Interview Guide -- Formulating Questions -- How Many Questions? -- How Much Structure? -- Wording of Questions -- Pretesting -- Issues and Trends for the Future -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 5.The Focus Group Moderator -- Leadership and Group Dynamics -- Interviewing Styles and Tactics -- Moderator Selection -- Moderator Preparation -- Cultural Dimensions of Focus Group Moderation -- Moderator Selection in Cross-Cultural Research -- Moderator Preparation in Cross-Cultural Research -- Moderator Bias in Focus Group Interviews -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 6.Conducting the Focus Group --

Contents note continued: The Physical Arrangement of the Group -- Interviewing Style -- Discussion Aids -- Intimacy -- Observers and Recordings -- Beginning the Interview -- Ensuring Participation -- Time Management -- Probing -- Dealing With Problems -- Experts -- Friends -- Hostile Group Members -- Special Issues -- Children as Focus Group Participants -- Focus Groups With Participants With Special Needs -- Observational Techniques -- Dealing With Sensitive and Embarrassing Topics -- Focus Groups in International Settings -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 7.Analyzing Focus Group Data -- How Much Analysis? -- Transcribing the Interview -- Qualitative Analytic Approaches -- Epistemological Orientation -- Disciplinary Focus -- Workbench Issues -- The Order of Topics in a Group Discussion -- What Is Discussed and What Is Not? -- Time Spent on an Issue -- Intensity and Emotional Content of the Discussion Expression -- Reasons Versus Responses -- What Is Believable? --

Contents note continued: Individuals Versus the Group -- Methods of Analysis -- The Scissor-and-Sort Technique -- Content Analysis -- Quantitative Analysis -- Computer-Assisted Content Analysis -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 8.Focus Groups in Practice -- Political Campaigns and Focus Groups -- Television Ads the Public Will Never See -- Impulsive Consumers, Shoplifters, and Focus Groups -- A Representative Focus Group Report: Buying a New Car -- New Car Purchasing Experiences: A Sample Report -- Purpose -- Composition of the Groups -- Major Factors Influencing Vehicle Purchase -- Summary -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 9.Virtual Focus Groups and Other Group Research Methods -- Virtual Focus Groups -- Types of Virtual Focus Groups -- Platforms Available for Conducting Virtual Focus Groups -- Recruiting for Virtual Focus Groups -- Benefits of Virtual Focus Group Recruitment -- Challenges of Virtual Focus Group Recruitment -- Moderating Virtual Focus Groups --

Contents note continued: The Next Phase of Virtual Focus Groups -- Other Group Techniques -- The Nominal Group Technique -- The Delphi Technique -- Brainstorming and Synectics -- Leaderless Discussion Groups -- Conclusion -- Review Questions -- 10.Conclusion.