Comparing focus groups and individual interviews: Findings from a randomized study

Researchers often question using focus groups or individual interviews for their studies. The findings in this article are based on a randomized study in which data from focus groups and individual interviews were compared. The authors found that sensitive and personal disclosures were more likely in a focus group and some sensitive themes only occurred in a focus group. The authors suggest these findings can help researchers align qualitative data collections methods with study objectives.