The Construction of Perceptions on the Environmental and Managerial Considerations of an Urban Green Space

A few decades ago, focus groups as a research methodology in the social sciences were largely considered a soft approach to social inquiry. However, many applied researchers now consider them to be an appropriate technique for revealing in-depth insights into opinion formation and preference construction (Ward, Bertrand, & Brown, 1991). One of the key components of most focus groups is the deliberative nature of discussion, as participants are encouraged to freely discuss their opinions, emotions, and concerns amongst each other. With the exception of a moderator setting the agenda, the content of the discussion and the insights revealed are left to the participants and are a unique product of the specified knowledge which they input into the discussion (Albrecht, Johnson, & Walther, 1993). By ensuring that all participants are equally encouraged to voice thoughts and suggestions, this method supports a thorough and perhaps more realistic approach towards public engagement than discrete survey questions in isolation (Abelson et al., 2003).