A Critique of Focus Group and Survey Research: The Machismo Case

Increasing recognition of the need for more qualitative methods in research on motivational aspects of fertility has rekindled interest in the focus group interview. Potential advantages and disadvantages of this approach are discussed especially in light of recognized limitations of KAP Studies. Results of a Mexico study that utilized both survey and focus group techniques are evaluated concentrating on the concept of machismo as related to fertility. The group method confirmed a number of important survey findings that are sometimes attributed to limitations of the survey method. The survey produced results clearly negating the machismo/fertility complex while the focus group findings were at best inconclusive. (authors)