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Small is not too Small

Reflections Concerning the Validity of Very Small Focus Groups (VSFGs)

Central Michigan University, USA, toner1j{at}cmich.edu

This article discusses issues of validity in focus group methodology when very few people actually participate in the research. The defense of small size emerges from experiences in dissertation research with women who have abused illegal substances and self-identify as addicts. Validity is addressed through application of standard measures of validity to the Very Small Focus Groups (VSFGs). In addition, the VSFGs are analyzed according to characteristics of group development, demonstrating that even with small size, typical group development stages occur. Attention is paid to feminist research principles, demonstrating that those principles are expressed regardless of small group size. Implications for social work research and practice in partnership with marginalized people are discussed.

Key Words: feminist research method • focus groups • validity

Qualitative Social Work, Vol. 8, No. 2, 179-192 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1473325009103374


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