Analyze the case study School Shootings and Focus Group Research: Narrative Analysis and Problem Definition:

Conduct a Content Analysis of Problem Definitions-

What are the major categories of respondents' views toward the causes of school shootings? How are their views of causes related to policies? Are the respondents always consistent in their views?

a. What type of method did you use to conduct your analysis (deductive, inductive. combination)!

b. Did you look for manifest or latent content or both?

c. In your opinion, how reliable and valid are your findings?

d. How do your results compare with other classmates conclusions?

Critique the Facilitator-

Critique the performance of the facilitator in this discussion.

a. Did the facilitator intervene at the right moments? Are there examples where the facilitator should have intervened but did not or where the facilitator intervened inappropriately?

b. Are there examples of the facilitator using leading questions?

c. Did the facilitator ever inappropriately interject his or her own opinion into the discussion?

d. Were the questions asked appropriate? If not, what questions would have you asked and why?

Surveys and Focus Groups-

Having read this transcript, what do you believe are the strengths and weaknesses of focus group research as compared to what you know about mail survey research? If you were to design a survey based on the results of this focus group session, and what responses would you let them choose from?

Symbols and Metaphors-

Can you find examples of participants using symbols or metaphors in their responses? What about their use of causes and Stone's discussion? Does the understanding of Stone's symbolic representation help in understanding the responses?

What Next?

From a practical perspective, what could a policy analyst do with this information? Is this approach more democratic than other types of policy analysis, or is it merely an exercise a postpositivism that takes us nowhere?