Focus groups with children: A resource for sexual abuse prevention program evaluation

Abstract

Objective: This paper presents the focus group method as a tool for conducting research with children and critiques the advantages and disadvantages of the use of focus groups with children for evaluative purposes. Method: A description of the focus group method and the phases involved in its development and implementation in one child sexual abuse prevention program evaluation is provided, along with general recommendations derived from the study. Results: The described study reveals that the focus group method is highly feasible and that children are capable of participating in research using this method. Use of the focus group for data collection allows discovery of unanticipated information such as the role of context in shaping children's interpretations of prevention messages and subtle between-group differences in cognitive style and reactions to prevention messages. Conclusions: The focus group represents untapped potential for furthering the quality and usefulness of child sexual abuse prevention research. The method is an innovative strategy for elaboration upon quantitative findings and the development of instrumentation. The method is also worthwhile for exploratory research and for program evaluations that seek in-depth understanding of the meaning of prevention messages in a child's world.