How to analyze FGDs?

 What is a Focus group Discussions (FGDs)? 

Focus group Discussions(FGDs) are another common qualitative research tool. Focus group Discussions (FGDs) are “facilitated discussions, held with a small group of people who have specialist knowledge or interest in a particular topic”.

They are used to find out the perceptions and attitudes of a defined group of people. Focus group Discussions (FGDs) are typically conducted with 6-12 people. Focus group Discussions (FGDs) are often used to “solicit the views of those who would not be willing or able to speak up at larger group meetings”.

An focus group Discussions )FGDs) should be 60–90 minutes. If the focus group Discussions )FGDs) is “shorter than 60 minutes, it is often difficult to fully explore the discussion topic. If the focus group Discussions )FGDs) is longer than 90 minutes, the discussion can become unproductive”.

In a focus group Discussions (FGDs), the researcher is not trying to make the group reach a consensus.  Their goal is to explore different people’s opinions on the topic. The results of an In a focus group Discussions (FGDs), are exploratory, not conclusive. Since focus group Discussions (FGDs) data is qualitative, it cannot necessarily be generalized to the population. This is because qualitative data is often context-specific.

 Analyzing FGDs 

Analyzing FGDs includes data analysis, and an analyzing FGDs includes an objective review of transcription of recordings, observations, and identifying key points or topics that answer the original evaluation questions. An analyzing FGDs is an important step, because the analyzing FGDs organizes and summarizes the information gathered, which is easy to interpret.

When using an audio tape to record focus group Discussions(FGDs), it is necessary to attach a written copy of the records, regardless of how analyzing FGDs, whether manual or using a computer application, and there are two main parts to analyzing FGDs: the first part includes analyzing FGDs is to separate and organize data in logical and meaningful sections, and these sections usually follow the questions or subdivisions in the coordinator's guide.

The second part of the analyzing FGDs is explanatory and involves setting criteria for organizing data into useful groups, sometimes referred to as coding. In general, it is preferable to analyzing FGDs as soon as possible after the meeting so that meeting events are still in mind.

 Qualitative analysis 

The process of qualitative analysis begins with the beginning of the collection of scientific material. Thematic analysis is one of the methods used to qualitative analysis data, thematic analysis explains coding mechanisms and systematically qualitative analysis data.

Uses of qualitative analysis methods:

• Qualitative analysis is used in experimental studies.
• Qualitative analysis is also used to calculate special criteria.
• Special qualitative analysis is used to read and evaluate research studies.

The importance of qualitative analysis:

The qualitative analysis process aims to understand the researcher's implications, and at first glance it may seem difficult to qualitative analysis, but those with experience and those familiar with the problem of research or subject find in collecting a large amount of data a huge wealth towards starting to the intellectual and creative depth, Thus, the hoped-for results and the answers to the assumptions of scientific research are reached.

 Quotations 

The quotations in scientific research is one of the main pillars on which the research plan depends, and the quotations is one of the oldest methods of collecting the scientific material known, and the aim of the quotations is to strengthen the research and strengthen the content.

The word quotations means supply, benefit, and demand, and the quotations is defined in scientific research: to convey some texts directly or indirectly to others, in order to emphasize or objectively criticize a particular idea, and to reach the new in the same discipline.

Types of quotations:

• Quotations directly.
• Quotations indirectly.
• Delete when quotations.
• Data completion.
• Author citation.
• Reference to a personal interview.

Quotations terms:

There are many quotations requirements that the researcher must abide by:

1. The quotations that the researcher cites in his research must be expressing the original meaning, with reference to the author or author of the source.
2. With multiple means of quotations, the researcher must be as short as possible, as the prolonged quotations may be have errors, and this may lead to a change of meaning.
3. The researcher should only be interested in quotations necessities.
4. The researcher should provide the reasons for quotations by commenting on what is being conveyed.

 Triangulation 

Before the advent of integrated research strategies, One of the most important characteristics gained when using these strategies is the possibility of triangulation, where triangulation allows the researcher to use research methods and data sources and researchers to study a particular phenomenon in addition to identifying its aspects more accurately through approaching it and from different points of view using methods and various techniques.

Successful triangulation requires a thorough analysis of the type of information provided in each method, including its strengths and weaknesses, many researchers used the term triangulation in their studies, and triangulation is data collection in more ways than one.

In many cases, triangulation has been and continues to be recommended to validate and promote the results of the study. After the emergence of integrated search strategies, it is clear that triangulation is in fact a used use of integrated research.

Triangulation is also called cross examination and triangulation is “the use of more than one tool or method of data collection and analysis of the same phenomenon in order to confirm the validity of the results in the study in addition to the fact that triangulation contributes to reducing the bias that may be caused by the method or tool of data collection”.

The purpose of triangulation is to raise confidence in results by collecting data in more ways than one way to consider whether the data collected in more ways leads to the same results and promotes or supports each other.

 Watch: How to analyse focus group data 

With greetings: Al - Manara Consulting to help researchers and graduate students