Examination and analysis of researcher-participant power dynamics in focus group discussions
Abstract
Focus group discussions (FGDs) are a popular method of collecting data for various qualitative research study designs. The value of focus group discussions (FGDs) in community-based studies is enhanced with rigorous application of the research method. Its flexibility enhances its usefulness in varied contexts, research questions and disciplines. However, power dynamics could affect optimum use of the method, the kind and amount of data collected. Based on research experience mainly in South African communities; villages and townships, this paper explores the performance of power in FGDs. This paper discusses researcher-participant power dynamics in community engagement, participant recruitment, organisation and facilitation of FGDs. The experiences discussed here are applicable in a variety of research topics, and beyond the South African context.
Downloads
Copyright (c) 2021 Mzikazi Nduna
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This journal is an open access journal, and the authors' and journal should be properly acknowledged, when works are cited.
Authors may use the publishers version for teaching purposes, in books, theses, dissertations, conferences and conference papers.
A copy of the authors’ publishers version may also be hosted on the following websites:
- Non-commercial personal homepage or blog.
- Institutional webpage.
- Authors Institutional Repository.
The following notice should accompany such a posting on the website: “This is an electronic version of an article published in PINS, Volume XXX, number XXX, pages XXX–XXX”, DOI. Authors should also supply a hyperlink to the original paper or indicate where the original paper (http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/pins) may be found.
Authors publishers version, affiliated with the Stellenbosch University will be automatically deposited in the University’s’ Institutional Repository SUNScholar.
Articles as a whole, may not be re-published with another journal.
Copyright Holder: PINS-Psychology in Society - PINS & Author retain copyright
The following license applies:
