An exploratory study for analyzing interactional processes of group discussion: the case of a focus group interview

  • Authors:

  • Kana Suzuki;Ikuyo Morimoto;Etsuo Mizukami;Hiroko Otsuka;Hitoshi Isahara

  • Affiliations:

  • National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 3-5, Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, 619-0289, Kyoto, Japan and Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, 2-2 ...;Kwansei Gakuin University, 1-155, Uegahara Ichiban-cho, Nishinomiya, 662-8501, Hyogo, Japan;National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 3-5, Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, 619-0289, Kyoto, Japan;The Institute of Behavioral Science, 2-9, Ichigaya Hommura-cho, Shinjuku-ku, 162-0845, Tokyo, Japan;National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, 3-5, Hikaridai, Seika-cho, Soraku-gun, 619-0289, Kyoto, Japan

  • Venue:
  • AI & Society - Special Issue: Social intelligence design: a junction between engineering and social sciences
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

The purposes of this study are (a) to establish a measurement for evaluating conversational impressions of group discussions, and (b) to make an exploratory investigation on their interactional processes which may affect to form those impressions. The impression rating and factor analysis undertaken first give us four factors concerning conversational impressions of “focus group interviews (FGIs)”: conversational activeness, conversational sequencing, the attitudes of participants and the relationships of participants. In relation to the factors of conversational activeness and conversational sequencing in particular, the microanalysis of four selected topical scenes from our database further shows that the behavior of the moderator and the interviewees is organized not independently but with reference to each other. The study thus emphasizes the importance of the integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches towards human interactions.