What is a focus group?

A focus group is primarily defined as a guided discussion among a small group of individuals, typically consisting of 6 to 10 participants, who share their thoughts and opinions about a specific topic or set of issues. This qualitative research method allows researchers to gather in-depth insights, explore attitudes, and engage in dialogue that can reveal complex behaviors and motivations.

Participants in a focus group are encouraged to discuss their experiences and feelings, providing a rich context to the subject matter being studied. Facilitators often guide the conversation using predetermined questions, but they also allow for free-flowing discussion, which can lead to unexpected insights and deeper understanding of the topic.

The other options you mentioned do not capture the essence of what a focus group entails. Surveys are more structured and quantitative, typically assessing wider populations rather than in-depth qualitative insights. Individual interviews, while they do collect personal opinions, do not benefit from the dynamic group interaction that focus groups promote. Systematic observation of a group's dynamics involves watching interactions without direct engagement, which differs from the interactive nature of a focus group discussion.