David L. Morgan Knihy

Monografie představuje odnož výzkumu v oblasti psychologie zaměřenou na kvalitativní metodu, ve které se uplatňuje výzkumná technika "ohniskové skupiny".Ohnisková skupina je metodou výzkumu postoje jedince k problému, který předloží badatel kruhu osob. Během rozhovoru výzkum explicitně využívá skupinové interakce k tomu, aby získal údaje a vhledy, které by bez interakce nemusely být bezprostředně sděleny. Metoda je dnes běžně využívána například v marketingu - k tvorbě reklamy zaměřené na konkrétní cílovou skupinu. Kniha rozebírá jevy charakteristické pro tuto metodu výzkumu a popisuje kroky ve vedení ohniskové skupiny.

This fascinating study of devotional images traces their historical links to important strains of American culture. David Morgan demonstrates how popular visual images―from Warner Sallman's "Head of Christ" to velvet renditions of DaVinci's "Last Supper" to illustrations on prayer cards―have assumed central roles in contemporary American lives and communities.Morgan's history of popular religious images ranges from the late Middle Ages to the present day and analyzes what he calls "visual piety," or the belief that images convey. Rather than isolating popular icons from their social contexts or regarding them as merely illustrative of theological ideas, Morgan situates both Protestant and Catholic art within the domain of devotional practice, ritual, personal narrative, and the sacred space of the home. In addition, he examines how popular icons have been rooted in social concerns ranging from control of human passions to notions of gender, creedal orthodoxy, and friendship. Also discussed is the coupling of images with texts in the attempt to control meanings and to establish markers for one's community and belief. Drawing from the fields of music, sociology, theology, philosophy, psychology, and aesthetics, Visual Piety is the first book to bring to specialist and lay reader alike an understanding of religious imagery's place in the social formation and maintenance of everyday American life.

Asking the right questions is critical in focus group interviewing. This book describes a practical process for identifying powerful themes and then offers an easy-to-understand strategy for translating those themes into questions. Richard Krueger suggests ways of categorizing, phrasing and sequencing focus group questions. Going beyond material presented in his earlier books, Krueger shares ideas for questions that get participants actively involved in the focus group interview. For example, he suggests asking participants to make lists, create report cards, sort pictures, draw, cut and paste, or participate in a mini-debate. The results of these activities not only yield insightful information but are also interesting and fun. This book helps make the process of developing good questions easier by outlining a process and offering many examples.

Focusing on qualitative research methods, this volume addresses practical challenges faced by researchers. David L. Morgan provides insightful guidance, building on the strengths of earlier editions in the Sage series. The book serves as a valuable resource for both novice and experienced researchers, offering instructive advice to enhance their qualitative methodologies.

David L Morgan covers the wide range of practical tasks required in the course of a research project when using focus groups. Throughout, Planning Focus Groups emphasizes the clarifying purposes of the research project in order to collect data that meet the goals. The author extensively and concisely covers the basic decisions that are necessary to plan a research project using focus groups, such as who should be in the groups, the total number of groups, their size and much more. This volume also features a detailed discussion of personnel and budgets. Among the other topics covered are recruitment, selecting locations, and recording and managing data. Practical material includes checklists and recruitment tools.