expression

focus group

a small group interviewed to gauge opinions of a product

In more detail

a small group of people chosen to discuss and give their opinions about a product, service, idea, or advertisement, usually to help a company or organization make decisions

Examples

The company held a focus group to get feedback on their new smartphone design.

How to use focus group

Focus groups are a standard market research tool used by companies, advertisers, and organizations to gather qualitative feedback before launching products or campaigns. The term is typically used in business and marketing contexts and implies a structured, purposeful discussion rather than casual conversation.

Common phrases

conduct a focus group
hold a focus group
focus group discussion
focus group participant
focus group research

Synonyms

discussion group · test group · panel · sample audience

A common mistake

Learners sometimes treat 'focus group' as if it refers only to the methodology rather than the actual participants; remember it can denote either the process (conducting a focus group) or the assembled people (the focus group itself).

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