Effizient und partizipativ?

The article discusses potentials and risks of the focus group as a method of human geography. Firstly, we aim to clarify the extent to which focus groups are suitable for efficiently opening up new fields of analysis. Secondly, it is to be determined whether the method of the focus group will involve the participants more closely in the research processes. Thirdly, we analyze the specific “geographic” aspects of focus groups. The basis of our contribution is, on the one hand, a review of the socio-scientific and human-geographic literature on focus groups and on the other hand the critical analysis of our experiences with the implementation of focus groups in two research projects in the field of energy geography. The paper concludes that the focus group is a demanding method which - unlike often postulated - is not per se characterized by a particular efficiency and participation. Its particular advantages are, in contrast, to combine context-related experiences and information in the form of a guided group discussion. Geographical realities (territories, places, scales and networks) are produced and reproduced with regard to their actor constellations and power relations.