Focus groups, which are a research methodology in the social sciences, can be useful tools for exploring the perspectives and experiences of physics-community members. In academic settings, they can be used to answer questions such as “How can teachers better engage students in physics classrooms and labs?” (see the article by Natasha Holmes and Carl Wieman, Physics Today, January 2018, page 38), “What would improve student and teacher experiences in a physics department?” and “What are the unique experiences of minority students in physics departments?” The results of a focus-group study can help improve classrooms, labs, departments, and university policies.
In this article, we describe how best to conduct focus groups for science departments. During a session, a discussion is held with multiple participants—ideally four to eight—to address a specific issue. Focus groups typically last for 60–120 minutes and are facilitated by a researcher who asks a series...
