THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICE OF FOCUS GROUPS IN IRAN

Abstract

Contemporary Iran often appears misunderstood, both with Western media and Islamic regime propaganda failing to capture the true essence of its young generation's identities and daily lives. At the same time, there is little attention paid to the interpretive paradigm across Iranian social science and humanities academia within which positivism reigns supreme. The present paper addresses these issues by highlighting key sociocultural characteristics relevant for researchers conducting qualitative studies in Iran, particularly through focus group interviews. Drawing from detailed observations in Tehran and personal experiences growing up in Iran, this paper offers practical insights to help researchers design effective research agendas and enhance focus group studies. The aim is to guide researchers in navigating cultural complexities, avoid common pitfalls, and improve the validity of their findings by providing a clearer understanding of Iranian urban youth culture. Ultimately, the study emphasizes the importance of detailed contextual circumstances for effectively designing and successfully executing the focus group discussions.