The Challenged Subject and the Focus Group Interview: A Methodological Construction of In-Betweenness

• In Event: Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: Rethinking the Interview

Abstract

Taking departure in Deleuze, this paper aims to explore the post-qualitative potentials in a commonly used method; the focus group interview. With inspiration in concepts like the event, becoming, and desire, the focus group is treated as a methodologically constructed event in which becoming can take place and desires be expressed. As a condition for these movements to happen, the space in between, the in-betweenness, in the situation is highlighted. This in-betweenness constructs conditions to challenge the stable, rational and cohesive subject, giving the participants of the group possibilities to change their positions and to produce subjectivities. Based on this, this paper claims the post-qualitative potentials in the focus group to be especially adapted for research in educational settings.

Author

• Lotta Johansson, Lund University