Ivanoff Synneve Dahlin, Hultberg John
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
Scand J Occup Ther. 2006 Jun;13(2):125-32. doi: 10.1080/11038120600691082.
In recent years, there has been a notable growth in the use of focus groups within occupational therapy. It is important to understand what kind of knowledge focus-group methodology is meant to acquire. The purpose of this article is to create an understanding of the basic assumptions within focus-group methodology from a theory of science perspective in order to elucidate and encourage reflection on the paradigm. This will be done based on a study of contemporary literature. To further the knowledge of basic assumptions the article will focus on the following themes: the focus-group research arena, the foundation and its core components; subjects, the role of the researcher and the participants; activities, the specific tasks and procedures. Focus-group methodology can be regarded as a specific research method within qualitative methodology with its own form of methodological criteria, as well as its own research procedures. Participants construct a framework to make sense of their experiences, and in interaction with others these experiences will be modified, leading to the construction of new knowledge. The role of the group leader is to facilitate a fruitful environment for the meaning to emerge and to ensure that the understanding of the meaning emerges independently of the interpreter. Focus-group methodology thus shares, in the authors' view, some basic assumptions with social constructivism.
近年来，焦点小组在职业治疗中的应用显著增加。了解焦点小组方法旨在获取何种知识很重要。本文的目的是从科学理论的角度，对焦点小组方法中的基本假设形成理解，以便阐明并鼓励对该范式的反思。这将基于对当代文献的研究来完成。为进一步了解基本假设，本文将聚焦以下主题：焦点小组研究领域、基础及其核心组成部分；主体、研究者和参与者的角色；活动、具体任务和程序。焦点小组方法可被视为定性方法中的一种特定研究方法，有其自身的方法论标准形式以及自身的研究程序。参与者构建一个框架来理解他们的经历，并且在与他人的互动中，这些经历会被修改，从而导致新知识的构建。小组领导者的角色是营造一个富有成效的环境，使意义得以浮现，并确保对意义的理解独立于解释者而产生。在作者看来，焦点小组方法因此与社会建构主义有一些基本假设相同。
