title: Critical factors in the determination of focus group size.
abstract: From a theoretical perspective, it is difficult to decide an optimal number of participants that should be included in a focus group. Despite recent attempts, critical factors for the determination of the size of a focus group remain uncertain and can further be elaborated. From a practical perspective, this paper proposes four other factors that can be used for the determination of focus group size. These are: the number of questions asked, the allotted time for each question, the format of the focus group session and the duration of the session. Above all, the size of a group should first be determined by the aims of the research study.
authors.affiliation: South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service, Sutherland Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D006126:Group Processes; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012107:Research Design; D018401:Sample Size; D013997:Time Factors