focus group psychology

According to Csikszentmihályi, this occurs because all of the attention of the person in the flow state is on the task at hand; there is no more attention to be allocated. The flow model revisited. Horror games often keep challenges significantly above the player's level of competency in order to foster a continuous feeling of anxiety. Consult with professors working in sports psychology at your school for their insight into the profession. Experimental evidence shows that a balance between individual skills, and demands of the task (compared to boredom and overload) only elicits the flow experience in individuals having an internal locus of control[26] or a habitual action orientation. This is exhibited in well designed games, in particular, where players perform at the edge of their competency as they are guided by clear goals and feedback. [36][37][38], Musicians, especially improvisational soloists, may experience a state of flow while playing their instrument. Single Focus Group. The focus groups are the groups of intellectuals, professionals who come together to form an opinion for the new product in the company. CA is construct that is grounded in the seminal flow literature, yet CA has traditionally been used as a static construct, as if all five of its subconstructs occur at the same time—in direct contradiction to the flow literature. It emphasizes the positive influences in a person’s life. The research methods described and illustrated in this book are those particularly useful to the field of clinical and health psychology and cover both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The ESM is more complex than the FQ and contributes to the understanding of how flow plays out in a variety of situations, however the possible biases make it a risky choice. Zielausrichtung, Flow und Glücksgefühle [Flow during work but happiness during leisure time: goals, flow-experience, and happiness]. The purpose of the categorical items is to determine the context and motivational aspects of the current actions (these items include: time, location, companionship/desire for companionship, activity being performed, reason for performing activity). PSYCH 502 Core Concepts in Animal Behavior (3) Joseph A. Sisneros Reading, reports, and discussion on animal behavior, with a focus on topics that lie at the interface of animal behavior, evolutionary science, neurobiology, and psychology. Humans are hardwired to pay attention to negative experiences. [3], According to Lederman, focus-grouping is a "technique that involves the use of profound group interviews in which participants are selected because they are a purposive sampling of a specific population, with the group being 'focused' on a given topic. The ability to pay attention to important things—and ignore the rest—has been a crucial survival skill throughout human history. Conversely, so called "relaxation games" keep the level of challenges significantly below the player's competency level, in order to achieve an opposite effect. Focus Groups – All about Exploring the Customer’s Mindsets. Specifically, the class provides: an introduction to the structure and function of the sensory and motor … When one is in a flow state, they are working to master the activity at hand. ; The corrective recapitulation of the primary family group: The therapy group is much like a family in some ways.Within the group, each member can … Happiness, flow, and economic equality. Although you sign up for a focus group using your name and other personal information, there is a certain level of anonymity that participants receive during their discussion. However, the FQ has some weaknesses that more recent methods have set out to address. Knowing where to go (if navigation is involved), A balance exists between opportunity and capacity. Analyzing Focus Group Data T. he analysis and interpretation of focus group data require a great deal of judgment and care, just as any other scientific approach, and regardless of whether the analysis relies on quantitative or qualitative procedures. The length of focus group; The subject of the study; As you can imagine, shorter studies come with smaller rewards while longer ones come with bigger rewards. [89], Thissen et al. When to use Focus Groups and Why? Because flow is associated with achievement, its development could have concrete implications in increasing workplace satisfaction and accomplishment. [58] Overall, the experience of play is fluid and is intrinsically psychologically rewarding independent of scores or in-game successes in the flow state.[54]. Professional poker players use the term "playing the A-game" when referring to the state of highest concentration and strategical awareness, while pool players often call the state being in "dead stroke". So finding ways to increase the frequency of flow experiences can be one way for people to work together to increase the effectiveness of their workplaces. World's No. Focus group methodology generates distinct ethical challenges that do not correspond fully to those raised by one-to-one interviews. Applying these methods in the workplace can improve morale by fostering a sense of greater happiness and accomplishment, which may be correlated with increased performance. Psychologists, including those with educational psychology degrees, can look forward to a faster-than-average job growth projection of 14% from 2018-28, along with a median annual salary of $79,010. 0000001322 00000 n Terms offered: Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2020 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session This course will give a rigorous yet accessible overview of our current understanding of how the brain works and how it is altered by experience. 0000000676 00000 n The Department of Psychology is committed to enhancing knowledge of psychological principles and practices through scholarship, research, undergraduate service-learning, and graduate clinical training. Many other branches of psychology focus on how parents, friends, and other people impact human behavior, but most do not take into account the powerful impact that culture may have on individual human actions. Results of a longitudinal study in the academic context indicate that the causal effect of flow on performance is only of small magnitude and the strong relationship between the two is driven by an effect of performance on flow. Likewise drummers and bass guitarists often describe a state of flow when they are feeling the downbeat together as being in the pocket. "Flow and its affective, cognitive, and performance-related consequences." Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [17], Cowley et. In. This helps to negotiate any changing demands and allows adjusting performance to maintain the flow state. Examples: A focus group of parents of preschoolers meets to discuss child care needs. FGDs are a predetermined semi-structured interview led by a skilled moderator. Found insideRookie moderators will find this book is an invaluable guide, and veteran moderators will discover tips and strategies for honing their skills. `I read this book in a single sitting. Traditionally, focus group research is “a way of collecting qualitative data, which—essentially—involves engaging a small number of people in an informal group discussion (or discussions), ‘focused’ around a particular topic or set of issues” (Wilkinson, 2004, p. 177).Social science researchers in general and qualitative researchers in particular often rely on focus groups … However, we know from social psychology that group dynamics are often at play in any group, including focus groups, and it is useful to be aware of those possibilities. For example, frequent experiences of flow at work lead to higher productivity, innovation, and employee development (Csikszentmihályi, 1991, 2004). In essence, flow is characterized by the complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting transformation in one's sense of time. Focus group is a form of qualitative research. The focus group is the collaboration of people who come together to make an opinion, put forth their belief and perspective for the product or service initiate, in the company. Csikszentmihályi writes about the dangers of flow himself: ...enjoyable activities that produce flow have a potentially negative effect: while they are capable of improving the quality of existence by creating order in the mind, they can become addictive, at which point the self becomes captive of a certain kind of order, and is then unwilling to cope with the ambiguities of life. In the study "Predicting flow at work: Investigating the activities and job characteristics that predict flow states at work", Karina Nielsen and Bryan Cleal used a 9-item flow scale to examine predictors of flow at two levels: activity level (such as brainstorming, problem solving, and evaluation) and at a more stable level (such as role clarity, influence, and cognitive demands). [2], The work of Yvonna Lincoln and Egon Guba is an example of a contribution to the field of qualitative research. 's (2015) qualitative study. [55], It improves performance; calling the phenomenon "TV trance", a 1981 BYTE article discussed how "the best seem to enter a trance where they play but don't pay attention to the details of the game". This book differs by demonstrating the specific steps necessary to conduct focus groups in educational and psychological settings. [1], Conversation analysis is a type of qualitative research in the field of sociology. Flow is so named because during Csíkszentmihályi's 1975 interviews several people described their "flow" experiences using the metaphor of a water current carrying them along. [71] For sure, the association between the two is a reciprocal one. The further from the center an experience is, the greater the intensity of that state of being, whether it is flow or anxiety or boredom or relaxation. [5], In any given moment, there is a great deal of information made available to each individual. 695-704, Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihályi, M. (year). This study can help us identify which task at work can be cultivated and emphasized in order to help employees experience flow on the job. See what the researchers found, and learn how you can help. Found insideBarbour discusses the advantages and limitations of using group discussion and demonstrates effective methods for collecting and analyzing data. This is a perfect how-to introduction to getting the most out of your focus group research. [13][14] While the activities that induce flow vary and may be multifaceted, Csikszentmihályi asserts that the experience of flow is similar whatever the activity.[15]. [5], Some of the features of focus-group discussions include each member's participation, a number of consecutive meetings, common characteristics of members with respect to interests, the collection of qualitative data, and discussion that is focused on a topic that is determined by the purposes of the research. Propose more research be down with how flow affects fiction reading in all types of readers. The individual interview is simpler for the researcher to control, but a focus-group discussion helps the researcher to obtain more information in less time than individual interviews ordinarily take. The field focused on pathology, on the worst-scenario cases, on what can go wrong in our lives. @],@�~0�Q��AHD���RR�4?,d�1���4���� ���@Z ���"V��&_�d��j.j��aqq:�4WrɆ���3��x�{x=�8���{�a_��K�7`q��H�10�߀'��-�@�� &޾P Focus groups are a form of qualitative research that is commonly used in product marketing and marketing research, but it is a popular method within sociology as well. New Delhi: The SAGE. 2). [10], The ESM requires individuals to fill out the experience sampling form (ESF) at eight randomly chosen time intervals throughout the day. A focus group discussion (or FGD) is a qualitative research method in the social sciences, with a particular emphasis and application in the developmental program evaluation sphere. The group also evaluated existing support programs and services at NC State and on campuses across the country. Artists, especially painters, got so immersed in their work that they would disregard their need for food, water and even sleep. Our 5 private clinics across Melbourne offer clients a means of working through a range of issues they may be facing. Northwestern's Psychology Department aims to train the best and brightest of the next generation's scientists in Psychology and the related behavioral sciences. 4). "The concept of flow." Qualitative psychological research is psychological research that employs qualitative methods. 28(4), pp. A focus group provides anonymity for many of the participants. They guide the reader through key stages of the focus interview process: preparing for the focus group, selecting participants, conducting the interview, using focus groups with children and adolescents, analyzing the data. The theory of flow came about when Csikszentmihályi tried to understand the phenomenon experienced by these artists. Timelessness – thoroughly focused on the present, hours seem to pass by the minute. With so much variety from which to choose, focus group design decisions may be more complex and nuanced than meets the eye. Walker, C. J. Instead of a traditional survey which offers specific question and answer options, the focus group allows participants to speak freely about the ideas presented and offer their opinions in a way that supports what the survey is … 0000005152 00000 n The group also evaluated existing support programs and services at NC State and on campuses across the country. Our graduates have gone on to attain prestigious academic and research positions in universities, colleges, hospitals, and other venues where psychological research is conducted. Focus-group discussions help in elaborating the different viewpoints and emotional processes of each member within a group. In contrast to other types of focus groups, a mini focus group has only four or five respondents. He explains that while some tasks at work may fit into a larger, organization plan, the individual worker may not see where their individual task fits it. The Department of Psychology at Jackson State University is a unit of the School of Social and Behavioral Science in the College of Liberal Arts. [3], Discourse analysis is type of qualitative research in the field of sociolinguistics. trailer 0000006975 00000 n Publisher description Visit the registrar's site for the Psychology’s course descriptions Deciding on sports psychology as a specialty is a good start; within this field, you should consider more specifically where your interest lies. Flow, performance and moderators of challenge-skill balance. Suddenly I was nearly two seconds faster than anybody else, including my team mate with the same car. Focus groups have … Conditions of flow, defined as a state in which challenges and skills are equally matched, play an extremely important role in the workplace. Our department is a group of eminent faculty - scholars and teachers - who make major contributions to the field by helping to shape the base of knowledge, academic literature, and training of both undergraduate and graduate students of psychology Psychology Graduate Program at UCLA 1285 Franz Hall Box 951563 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563. 253–276). Using numerous examples, the authors show how to prepare for a focus group, create a moderator's guide, select a setting and analyze results. The FQ identifies flow as multiple constructs, therefore allowing the results to be used to estimate differences in the likelihood of experiencing flow across a variety of factors. The content of all focus group interviews is usually recorded and transcribed to facilitate later analyses. [34] In the patent application for SAKI (1956),[35] Pask's comments (some of which are included below) indicate an awareness of the pedagogical importance of balancing student competence with didactic challenge, which is quite consistent with flow theory: If the operator is receiving data at too slow a rate, he is likely to become bored and attend to other irrelevant data. [86], Cameron et al. The ability to pay attention to important things—and ignore the rest—has been a crucial survival skill throughout human history. >S�e0�P�G��uL�R�H��Q��|�G��<9s�:{� �+[�+w��D��ki��T�m2�96�G\w"���R����x8V���. Focus groups are well suited for those situations. A tutor teaching one pupil seeks to maintain just these conditions. But you can use it right here & right now. We take a look at each of these methods, where they excel and where they fall short when it comes to a connected-and-online customers of 2015. An experimental analyses. Their reactions to specific researcher/evaluator-posed questions are studied. Similarly these conditions should obtain at each stage of a learning process if it is to be efficient. K.Denzin, N., & Lincoln, Y. S. Barbour.R (2008). Al found that because self-reported flow happens after-the-fact, it doesn’t really capture the aspect of flow that happens in the moment. Flow experiences at work: for high need achievers alone? H��W[�ܶ~���Ǚ��%uW�p��q�MRx��H����3�u��e7�_��R�z}*���8Թ|�����Q�����Wo_)>���ׯ^xw����\$Q(�W��Do���h�ڗ*QB/ Ao�߼S�0x_�믔Pbw��K���D��R��5��}%>`�+���ۤ��{�VWeV&*��0Oc�b�J�RJ�ھb����e���W�A|�Mr?�t�4�7}7��k=����o�"t.I�,?��U(�;���P X��jGӟz3��Z�݊[vr`'%� #wS�C�F��4�� �'ŕ��{�l *���<4��W�{���U$C?›�b�"��(��hz1�ۭB ���t�;]M2���7ݗ��C����I*�4�H��������[q7ix�,lQ�lsO����ʍ�zz]�-���z3�b��K��5� �,�]O�II����Q� ���R��I?���z;�� �p�ôo��B�L�(�����Tdw���YƉ��ug��6�WF�p�oC Many athletes describe the effortless nature of their performance while achieving personal bests.[45][46][47]. [85], Cameron et al. This page was last edited on 21 June 2021, at 07:46. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS. ), Massimini, F., Csikszentmihályi, M., & Carli, M. (1987). A great deal of the skepticism about the value of focus groups probably arises from the The quality of experience in adolescents' daily lives: Developmental perspectives. [54] The positive emotions associated with flow are associated with the law of effect. A simplified modification to flow has been combined with the technology acceptance model (TAM) to help guide the design of and explain the adoption of intrinsically motivated computer systems. [8], The flow state has been described by Csikszentmihályi as the "optimal experience" in that one gets to a level of high gratification from the experience. Intrinsic motivation – whatever produces flow becomes its own reward. We have a propensity to attend to, learn from, and use negative information far more than positive information. Rheinberg, F., Manig, Y., Kliegl, R., Engeser, S., & Vollmeyer, R. (2007). Boredom is a slightly different state that occurs when challenges are few, but one's skill level exceeds those challenges causing one to seek higher challenges. In S. Engeser (Ed. "The concept of flow. For more information, please visit our staff page. The ReThink Group assesses, coaches, and trains high-performing professionals, capitalizing on the latest neuroscience and psychological research regarding decision-making behavior. [10], Some researchers are not satisfied with the methods mentioned above and have set out to create their own scales. The ESF is made up of 13 categorical items and 29 scaled items. However, focus-group discussions are still organized and planned. In his review of Mihály Csikszentmihályi's book "Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning", Coert Visser introduces the ideas presented by Csikszentmihályi, including "good work" in which one "enjoys doing your best while at the same time contributing to something beyond yourself. Lesson Idea: Analyzing Focus Group Interviews. Being autotelic means having a self-contained activity, without the expectation of future benefit, but simply to be experienced.[25]. Other practitioners of Csíkszentmihályi's flow concept focus on intrinsic applications, such as spirituality, performance improvement, or self-help. Providing a very practical and step-by-step guide to collecting and and managing qualitative data, this book focuses on the three most often used forms of qualitative methods: participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus groups. This book provides students with a clear and concise guide to studying undergraduate courses in qualitative consumer research and ethnography. It involves a single moderator asking questions and organically discussing a topic with a small group of respondents. [6], One of the main purposes of focus-group discussions is to get insight into each participant's phenomenological world, including the individual's thinking, perceiving, and feeling, which may be largely independent of a group or its cultural and social settings. [27] Several correlational studies found need for achievement to be a personal characteristic that fosters flow experiences. endstream endobj 134 0 obj<> endobj 135 0 obj<> endobj 136 0 obj<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/ExtGState<>>> endobj 137 0 obj<> endobj 138 0 obj<> endobj 139 0 obj<> endobj 140 0 obj<> endobj 141 0 obj<> endobj 142 0 obj<> endobj 143 0 obj<>stream Eisenberger, R., Jones, J. R., Stinglhamber, F., Shanock, L., & Randall, A. T. (2005). [citation needed], For the most part (except for basic bodily feelings like hunger and pain, which are innate), people are able to decide what they want to focus their attention on. The scales developed by Jackson and Eklund are the most commonly used in research, mainly because they are still consistent with Csíkszentmihályi's definition of flow and consider flow as being both a state and a trait. [73][74][75] However, the causal processes underlying those relationships remain unclear at present. Developers of computer software reference getting into a flow state as "wired in", or sometimes as The Zone,[60][61] hack mode,[62] or operating on software time[63] when developing in an undistracted state. focus groups as research tool, this paper aims to explore methodological concerns arising in conducting and analysing focus groups, applying them to our own focus group research on the experiences of Relate counsellors of working with same-sex couples. x�b```f``���d$32 � +�0p\�1)0�`h|ۨ�P���@��� Deciding on sports psychology as a specialty is a good start; within this field, you should consider more specifically where your interest lies. The focus group stage was designed to utilize user-engagement to explore older adults' perceptions and attitudes toward tablets and technology in general, and also to refine a proposed intervention protocol using technology with older adults for subsequent stages of the “Tablet for Healthy Ageing.” James. Only Csíkszentmihályi seems to have published suggestions for extrinsic applications of the flow concept, such as design methods for playgrounds to elicit the flow experience. 0000010589 00000 n %PDF-1.6 %���� %%EOF While surveys or questionnaires can be useful, they can not capture what a person is thinking or feeling. Also, Csikszentmihályi stated that happiness is derived from personal development and growth – and flow situations permit the experience of personal development.[68]. Focus Group Interviews in Education and Psychology Through the use of numerous examples, the authors show readers how to prepare for a focus group, create a moderator's guide, select a setting, and analyze the results gleaned from focus groups. Focus groups are used in market research to better understand people's reactions to products or services or participants' perceptions of … [28][29][30], Group flow is notably different from independent flow as it is inherently mutual. If the data given indicates too precisely what responses the operator is required to make, the skill becomes too easy to perform and the operator again tends to become bored. �+��`^1 E���e,)̋ Just as with the conditions listed above, these conditions can be independent of one another. Educational Psychology By the Numbers. [4], Mihaly Csikszentmihályi and others began researching flow after Csikszentmihályi became fascinated by artists who would essentially get lost in their work. Using numerous examples, the authors show how to prepare for a focus group, create a moderator's guide, select a setting and analyze results. Successful Focus Groups . As such, game designers strive to integrate flow principles into their projects. Found insideThis best-selling handbook has been brought fully up-to-date with coverage of recent developments in the field including social media, big data, data visualization and CAQDAS. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 175(9), 545-549. doi:10.1097/00005053-198709000-00006. This is where a focus group will come into play. And suddenly I realised that I was no longer driving the car consciously. In spite of the effortless attention and overall relaxation of the body, the performance of the pianist during the flow state improved. [19] The model depicts the channels of experience that result from different levels of perceived challenges and perceived skills. Focus groups are about a group of people who participate in an interactive group setting. A sense of ecstasy – of being outside everyday reality. In S. Engeser (Ed.). Focus Group Interviews in Education and Psychology shows the specific steps to take to conduct focus groups in educational and psychological settings. & Csikszentmihályi, M. (1996). When groups cooperate to agree on goals and patterns, social flow, commonly known as group cohesion, is much more likely to occur. ; Catharsis: Sharing feelings and experiences with a group of people can help relieve pain, guilt, or stress. A friendly introduction to the basics of focus group methods with an international feel and an ethical sensibility. Focus-group discussions help in elaborating the different viewpoints and emotional processes of each member within a group. However, when one is in the flow state, they are completely engrossed with the one task at hand and, without making the conscious decision to do so, lose awareness of all other things: time, people, distractions, and even basic bodily needs. Working with a group of NC State faculty, staff and community leaders, Haskett surveyed 7,000 NC State students to assess the extent of food and housing insecurity on campus. Csíkszentmihályi[32] states that overlearning enables the mind to concentrate on visualizing the desired performance as a singular, integrated action instead of a set of actions. Focus groups avoid the artificiality of many psychological methods because they draw on people’s normal, everyday experiences of talking an3 arguing with families, friends, and colleagues about events and issues in their everyday lives. Positive psychology is a relatively new form of psychology. We have three licensed therapists on staff that offer counseling in Danish, Hebrew, Russian, Hindi, and Punjabi. This Handbook provides that clarification and presents model qualitative studies within the various music education disciplines. [24] Csíkszentmihályi has said, "If challenges are too low, one gets back to flow by increasing them. Jeanne Nakamura and Csíkszentmihályi identify the following six factors as encompassing an experience of flow:[2], Those aspects can appear independent of each other, but only in combination do they constitute a so-called flow experience. Proposed a research program that focuses on how group flow is different from individual flow, and how group flow affects group performance. However, hyperfocus is not always described in a positive light. The Third Edition reflects the growing use of focus group research to address an increasingly broad array of issues that have a global span, and also provides more guidance on conducting virtual focus groups. Visit the Psychology’s faculty roster. Csikszentmihályi, M., Larson, R., & Prescott, S. (1977). Landhäußer, A., & Keller, J. They are normally used for market research for new or existing products to be able to determine people’s attitudes towards specific branding, usability, packaging, or ideas. In positive psychology, a flow state, also known colloquially as being in the zone, is the mental state in which a person performing some activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. Several studies found that flow experiences and positive affect go hand in hand,[29][72] and that challenges and skills above the individual's average foster positive affect. The Department of Psychology at Northwestern University was founded in 1909. The state of apathy is characterized by easy challenges and low skill level requirements, resulting in a general lack of interest in the activity. A focus group is a small-group discussion guided by a trained leader. [12] It is in such high-challenge, high-skills situations that people are most likely to experience flow. Altruism: Group members can share their strengths and help others in the group, which can boost self-esteem and confidence. The effects of these attacks were the subject of North et al. The Understanding Research series focuses on the process of writing up social research. The series is broken down into three categories: Understanding Statistics, Understanding Measurement, and Understanding Qualitative Research.