The perceptions of graduate students of the University of Brasília about the Focus Group

Abstract

Introduction: the screen research aims to analyze the perceptions of students who graduated from the Graduate Program in Education at the University of Brasilia on the use of the focus group in qualitative research. Objective: as specific objectives, we propose: a) to discuss the use of the focus group as a data collection instrument, b) to understand how the focus group has been applied in the educational field. We believe that understanding this technique and its application, as well as the perceptions of graduates in relation to its use in research, is of great value to reflect on the choice of instruments and preparation of the phases of field research. Methodology: the study is anchored by a qualitative methodology, using Critical Discourse Analysis as a technique, to materialize the information collected in the subjects' speeches. The research was based on a field study, using a questionnaire applied to 08 students who graduated from the PPGE/UnB. For the theoretical basis, authors who discuss the focus group were used. Result: the study allowed us to understand the focus group concept and how to apply it in qualitative research. Conclusion: in relation to the perceptions of the graduates, the results showed that the focus group, despite being an instrument that requires greater planning for application, is capable of providing greater wealth of information, details and meanings, bringing the particularities of the studied object to light. from the interaction between the subjects