The Search for a Method: Focus Groups and the Development of Mass Communication Research - Softcover

Morrison, David E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1860205402 ISBN 13: 9781860205408

Publisher: University of Luton Press, 2003

Synopsis

"The Search for a Method" covers the origins, path and practice of focus group research. It provides not only a detailed methodological critique, but also a focused look at the beginnings of modern modes of mass communication research. "The Search for a Method" details the historical context of the research setting created by Lazarsfeld and shows how focus groups grew out of a tradition of quantitative as opposed to qualitative research. "The Search for a Method" will be of interest to academics, practitioners and students of media related studies and social studies, but will also have a wider appeal to anyone involved in research and its methodology.

About this title

Product Description

MORRISON, D.E. THE SEARCH FOR A METHOD. FOCUS GROUPS AND THE DEVELOPMENTOF MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH. LUTON, BEDFORSH., 1998, xv 294 p.,. Encuadernacion original. Nuevo.

Review

"A remarkable achievement. This is a beautifully integrated volume on the contexts and beginnings of the focus group technique blending at least two knowing and engaging books, each based on extensive documentary and field research. The one book provides a penetrating biographical account of Paul Lazarsfeld's pioneering work in communication and media research. The other provides the definitive historical account of the emergence of the focussed group interview that developed into the focus group which is widely used (and too often abused) in academe, the marketplace and the political arena, commonly for the formation of public and private policy. Morrison recognises and demonstrates that, like most scientific discoveries and technical inventions, the focus group technique was a joint product of its ultimately accredited originators and the socio-cognitive environment in which it emerged. (Granted that my opinion of this scholarly work may be affected by my place in its pages, I can truly say that this is the most deeply informed volume on its twin subjects that I know of.)" Robert K. Merton, University Professor Emeritus, Columbia University

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Luton Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1860205402
• ISBN 13: 9781860205408
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 296