Focus Groups

When I think of Focus Groups, I think about the scene in Up Close and Personal when the news channel makes Michelle Pfiefer look like her co-anchor based on results of a focus group. In that context, I can see them being a bit superficial. However, I can also see how they could be used for gathering more important info too. I have been invited twice to sit in on a focus group in Santa Fe, but they never offer any compensation. The letter makes it sound like you should be honored that they even asked you, which is all the compensation you get.

I think the success of a focus group really depends on the moderator. If the moderator is not able to guide discussions, and encourage everyone to speak openly, the group could be monopolized by stronger personalities or be taken off subject completely. It is also important that the moderator refrain from showing any opinion on the topic of discussion, as this could influence the discussion.

I could see myself using a focus group similar to what Merrie Davidson did with public school teachers. I would use the focus group to get an idea of how technology and new media are being/or not being used in the classroom, and an idea of how those teachers value the idea of new media. I think the information gathered from there could help me focus on areas of further research.
Outside my research interests, my husband and I have been considering opening a new business, and have been discussing the use of focus groups as a way explore public interest. We have also considered the use of surveys to evaluate whether or not our idea is even worth pursuing.

Case Studies

I really like the idea of using case studies. I see them as a starting point for beginning to search for answers to broad questions. It seems like a good way to begin figuring out what is going on in a specific situation. I think that case studies have a local/contextual quality that makes them unique from other types of methods. I guess this is what makes the case study more generalizable and a contextual.
I think of the a case study as an initial study on a subject, like looking at a small piece of an iceberg, rather than the whole. Case studies yield answers to initial questions that help the researcher focus on a plan for further study.

Worldviews

I feel most drawn to the worldviews Creswell describes as Constructivism and Pragmatism (6). I think I am drawn to the Social Constructivist worldview because of its need of human interaction for meaning making. Being a fan of the social construction theory in education, I really do believe we have a lot to learn from each other, and I see this connecting to my beliefs on research methodologies and design.

At the same time, I feel drawn to the pragmatic worldview because I like the idea of using mixed methods. I think there are many issues/variables that determine the best methods of research for a particular topic, and I like knowing that I can choose the method that works best within the context. While both of these worldviews value qualitative research, they also acknowledge the importance of quantitative research.

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Introduction

I just wanted to say hello, and tell you all that I am looking forward to our discussions!