Asking elaborate questions: Focus groups and the management of spontaneity
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In: Journal of Sociolinguistics, Vol. 3, No. 3, 08.1999, p. 314-335.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Asking elaborate questions: Focus groups and the management of spontaneity
AU - Puchta, Claudia
AU - Potter, Jonathan
PY - 1999/8
Y1 - 1999/8
N2 - This paper analyzes question formats in a corpus of German market research focus groups. In particular, it identifies and studies the use of 'elaborate questions' (questions which include a range of reformulations and rewordings). The analysis highlights three functions of such questions in focus groups: (a) they are used to guide participants and head off trouble where the question type is 'non-mundane'; (b) they help secure participation by providing an array of alternative items to respond to; (c) they guide participants to produce a range of opinion relevant responses. More generally, they help manage a dilemma between the requirement that the talk should be both highly focused on predefined topics and issues, and at the same time spontaneous and conversational. The analysis provides a range of interactional evidence for the pragmatic role of these formats.
AB - This paper analyzes question formats in a corpus of German market research focus groups. In particular, it identifies and studies the use of 'elaborate questions' (questions which include a range of reformulations and rewordings). The analysis highlights three functions of such questions in focus groups: (a) they are used to guide participants and head off trouble where the question type is 'non-mundane'; (b) they help secure participation by providing an array of alternative items to respond to; (c) they guide participants to produce a range of opinion relevant responses. More generally, they help manage a dilemma between the requirement that the talk should be both highly focused on predefined topics and issues, and at the same time spontaneous and conversational. The analysis provides a range of interactional evidence for the pragmatic role of these formats.
KW - Business psychology
KW - question formats
KW - focus groups
KW - conversation analysis
KW - institutional talk
KW - Market research
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/2eb6a7d7-16cc-316a-a831-2706669add61/
U2 - 10.1111/1467-9481.00081
DO - 10.1111/1467-9481.00081
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 3
SP - 314
EP - 335
JO - Journal of Sociolinguistics
JF - Journal of Sociolinguistics
SN - 1467-9841
IS - 3
ER -