Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Naturalistic Observations02:30

Naturalistic Observations

15.6K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
15.6K
Methods of Documentation IV: Focus Charting01:26

Methods of Documentation IV: Focus Charting

1.1K
Focus Charting, also known as the focus charting system or "focus documentation," is a systematic documentation approach used in healthcare to organize patient information in medical records.
It typically involves three columns for recording information:
1.1K
Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing01:23

Techniques of Therapeutic Communication II: Focusing, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

8.4K
Focusing involves centering a conversation on a message's critical elements or concepts. Focusing is valuable if the talk is vague or patients begin to repeat themselves. Sometimes, when patients are asked about their symptoms, they may go off-topic and try to tell their entire life story. Respectfully, the nurse should bring the conversation back into focus.
This therapeutic technique can also be used when a patient brings up pertinent information during a health-related conversation. The...
8.4K
Observational Studies01:11

Observational Studies

8.8K
Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
8.8K
Humanistic Psychology01:24

Humanistic Psychology

1.3K
Humanistic psychology emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the deterministic and pessimistic nature of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. While behaviorism focused on observable behaviors influenced by the environment and psychoanalysis delved into unconscious motivations, both theories suggested that human actions lacked free will. In contrast, humanistic psychology offers a perspective that emphasizes the innate potential for goodness and growth within every individual.
This approach...
1.3K
Group Design02:01

Group Design

9.3K
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
9.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Conceptualizing maternal mental health in rural Ghana: a realist qualitative analysis.

Health policy and planning·2024
Same author

Understanding the barriers to integrating maternal and mental health at primary health care in Vietnam.

Health policy and planning·2024
Same author

Protocol for a realist synthesis of health systems responsiveness in low-income and middle-income countries.

BMJ open·2021
Same journal

How can climate change and its interaction with other compounding risks be considered in evaluation? Experiences from Vietnam.

Evaluation (London, England : 1995)·2023
Same journal

Evaluability assessment: An application in a complex community improvement setting.

Evaluation (London, England : 1995)·2019
Same journal

From complex social interventions to interventions in complex social systems: Future directions and unresolved questions for intervention development and evaluation.

Evaluation (London, England : 1995)·2019
Same journal

Narrative Assessment: A new approach to evaluation of advocacy for development.

Evaluation (London, England : 1995)·2018
Same journal

Negotiating effectiveness in transnational advocacy evaluation.

Evaluation (London, England : 1995)·2018
Same journal

Politics of policy learning: Evaluating an experiment on free pricing arrangements in Dutch dental care.

Evaluation (London, England : 1995)·2018
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
06:16

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Published on: June 6, 2020

3.8K

Conducting focus groups in realist evaluation.

Ana Manzano1

  • 1University of Leeds, UK.

Evaluation (London, England : 1995)
|October 10, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Focus groups can clarify programme theories in evaluations. This article explores their history and use in developing middle-range theory, offering practical guidance for realist evaluation.

Keywords:
focus groupsgroup interviewsmiddle-range theoryprogramme theoryrealist evaluationtheory-driven evaluation

More Related Videos

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

12.0K
Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios
07:43

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios

Published on: August 4, 2023

2.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
06:16

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Published on: June 6, 2020

3.8K
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

12.0K
Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios
07:43

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios

Published on: August 4, 2023

2.2K

Area of Science:

  • Evaluation Science
  • Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

  • Focus groups, originating in the 1940s for theory development, are now widely used in evaluations.
  • Their application has evolved, leading to diverse practices and critiques regarding misuse.
  • Understanding their historical context is crucial for effective utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the knowledge generated by focus group data.
  • To explore how focus groups support theory development in evaluation.
  • To provide practical lessons for conducting focus groups within realist evaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Historical overview of focus group methodology.
  • Analysis of focus group data's role in theory building.
  • Case study application within realist evaluation frameworks.

Main Results:

  • Focus groups generate valuable qualitative data for understanding complex programmes.
  • Their effective use is linked to understanding their historical development and theoretical underpinnings.
  • Practical strategies can enhance their contribution to middle-range and programme theory.

Conclusions:

  • Focus groups are essential for clarifying programme theories when used appropriately.
  • Realist evaluation can benefit from methodologically sound focus group practices.
  • Further exploration of qualitative data's role in theory development is warranted.