Research Design: Focus Groups
During Spring 2003, two focus group protocols were developed from the approximately 800 pages of original interview transcripts: one to conduct focus groups with teenagers and one to conduct focus groups with parents of teenagers. Focus groups are one approach to group interviews that make use of group dynamics to elicit information on specific topics (Taylor & Bogdan, 1998). Although the group setting potentially creates a social desirability bias (Krueger, 1988), the original interview data suggest that much of young people's experiences with exploration will exist in the context of interactions with others. Thus, focus groups may be ideal for uncovering youths' experiences with exploration, and their parent's understanding of these experiences. The protocols were centered around compiling an initial pool of survey items (see Instrument Development below) that could be evaluated in a focus group setting.
Focus groups were conducted in four different counties across the state of Minnesota to determine if the qualities of exploration and risk-taking identified in the individual interviews hold true for younger youth and for parents. Six focus groups were conducted with adolescents and four focus groups were conducted with parents of adolescents.
Participants were recruited with the assistance of Extension Educators across the state. Four to nine individuals participated in each focus group that lasted approximately 90 minutes. Adolescents were between the ages of 13 and 18 and parents were raising at least one adolescent between the ages of 13 and 18. Focus groups were audiotaped, and then transcribed verbatim. Participants also completed a brief background questionnaire.