Reinforce chapter themes with free access to two journal articles for each chapter and further online readings. Select chapters will also include suggested weblinks.

Journal Article 9.1: Clavering, E. and McLaughlin, J. (2007) ‘Crossing multidisciplinary divides: Exploring professional hierarchies and boundaries in focus groups’, Qualitative Health Research 17: 400–10.

Discussion Points: How is the focus group adopted in this context? What benefits did this approach bring? Critically evaluate the paper.

Journal Article 9.2: Janke, M., Jones, J., Payne, L. and Son, J. (2012) ‘Living with arthritis: Using self-management of valued activities to promote health’, Qualitative Health Research 22: 360–72.

Discussion Points: How is the focus group used in this context? What were the benefits of this approach? Provide a critical assessment of the paper.

Journal Article 9.3: Moriaty-Daley, A. (2013) ‘Adolescent-friendly remedies for the challenges of focus group research’, Western Journal of Nursing Research 35 (8): 1043–59.

Description: Focus groups are an increasingly popular method of qualitative research; however, as with any research method, limitations emerge that were not anticipated. This article reviewed the limitations reported in 21 research studies, published between 2002 and 2012, to identify the common concerns of researchers in focus group studies with adolescents. Limitations focused on methodological concerns, recruitment challenges, and the potential influences of peers and the moderator on research results. Remedies are suggested for modifying the focus group method to address these potential challenges within the context of adolescent development and adolescent-friendly care.

Journal Article 9.4: Tausch, A. P. and Menold, N. (2016) ‘Methodological aspects of focus groups in health research: Results of qualitative interviews with focus group moderators’, Global Qualitative Nursing Research 14 (3): 2333393616630466.

Available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/rbtfl/kUbZTGD7XNfTMczgXZyF/pdf/10.1177/2333393616630466

Description: Although focus groups are commonly used in health research to explore the perspectives of patients or health care professionals, few studies consider methodological aspects in this specific context. For this reason, we interviewed nine researchers who had conducted focus groups in the context of a project devoted to the development of an electronic personal health record. We performed qualitative content analysis on the interview data relating to recruitment, communication between The focus group participants, and appraisal of the focus group method. The interview data revealed aspects of the focus group method that are particularly relevant for health research and that should be considered in that context. They include, for example, the preferability of face-to-face recruitment, the necessity to allow participants in patient groups sufficient time to introduce themselves, and the use of methods such as participant-generated cards and prioritization.