Qualitative Research and Consumer Policy: Focus Group Discussions as a Form of Consumer Participation

Y

21

Qualitative Research; Focus Groups; Public Policy; Consumer Economics; Consumer Science; Participation; Safety; Policy Formation; Technology; Innovation; Foreign Countries; Evaluation Research; Public Agencies; Discussion Groups

1052-0147

This paper describes our ongoing attempts to involve consumers in innovation and technology policy by means of a national Consumer Panel, using focus group discussions as the primary method of consumer participation. We evaluate our experiences of the usefulness of focus group discussions in this context by considering two examples of studies focused on product safety. We evaluate the usefulness of this method in promoting consumer empowerment, deliberation, and multivocality in the assessment of new technologies and innovations. We also raised some critical questions that require further analysis and discussion. (Contains 3 footnotes.)

As Provided

56

2008

EJ800296