The sociogram - a useful tool in the analysis of focus groups

Background - Focus groups are being utilized increasingly in health services research; however, methods of analyzing focus groups to acknowledge group processes are still under development.

Objectives - To explore the use of sociograms as a tool in focus group analyses.

Methods - Sociograms are presented for two focus groups which were conducted to complement a randomized controlled trial on the use of audiovisual distraction during minor surgery. The sociograms are interpreted to accentuate issues that may arise during focus group research.

Results and Discussion - Sociograms offer a useful method of conceptualizing group dynamics, drawing comparisons between focus groups, and reflecting on moderator technique. The sociogram is a useful aid for displaying and interpreting data from focus group discussions when used in combination with further qualitative inquiry.