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During
Spring 2003, residents representing a cross-section of Hall County were
gathered to participate in a series of focused discussion groups. These groups, ranging in size from six to 20 people, were
convened to talk about their views of life in Hall County and the
qualities that make a healthy community.
Groups
involved included:
-
Seniors
(2 groups)
-
Youth
(3 groups)
-
Hispanic
(2 groups)
-
South
Hall (1 group)
The
focus group report is just one component of the overall Healthy Hall
Community assessment, a broad effort to assess attributes and attitudes
that make the community a great place to live, work, and grow a family.
It
is important to understand both the value and limitations of focus
groups. Focus groups are a
research method that provides insight into the attitudes, ideas and
opinions of a particular group of people.
It is reasonable to assume, for example, that the attitudes
expressed within a small group of adults over the age of 65 will be
representative at least in part, of a larger group of older adults.
So when reading this report and evaluating the opinions of a
group, it is reasonable to assume the same attitudes and opinions exist
to some degree in the larger community.
Focus
groups are not quantitative, however.
One cannot assume that because a large majority in a focus group
believes one way, that the same percentage of similar persons believes
the same way.
A
focus group is a snapshot of the community.
Just as multiple photographs can begin to reveal that look of a
community, multiple focus groups begin to reveal the character and
composition of the community. The
multiple voices within the community are given an opportunity to call
out, and to be heard and better understood.
The
groups were also used to guide the development of a community-wide
telephone survey that provides quantitative information and gives
greater insight into the attitudes and habits that shape Hall County.
Focus Group Reports are available in two
forms. Choose how you would like to view the document by clicking
below:
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