Facilitators: Stephanie Bethmann, Ph.D., and Debora Niermann, M.A., Research Associates, Department of Sociology, University of Freiburg

In a research landscape that is typically shaped by interview studies concentrating on individual experiences, focus groups can remind us that social groups are central to sociological analysis. The workshop introduces a specific form of focus group, known in Europe as "group discussions", that demands the researcher "let go" and allow the group to express themselves in their own emergent communicative style.

Often focus groups are applied to efficiently gather opinions from a larger number of participants. But there is so much more to be gained from this research tool if the researcher takes into account the participants' interactions. By doing so, focus groups enable us to understand collective experiences that shape the everyday-interactions within groups and communities. The analysis aims not at explicit opinions, but at the workings of social groups.

The workshop begins with a focus group/group discussion on the topic of research experiences, in which the workshop participants can join as discussants, and thereby experience the method in action. Afterwards, we will explain the benefits and procedures of group discussions as a means to understand collective experience and interaction in various research settings. Furthermore an approach to data analysis is introduced that takes into account the interactional dimension of the data.

Workshop is limited to 12 participants, and is geared towards U-M graduate students and faculty. Please register at: umfocusgroups.eventbrite.com