In my own research, I have found that these areas may provide successful sources of stimulation for data, though with interesting gender preferences. Female rather than male participants seem to focus on fictional culture, and particularly soap operas. There may be the opportunity to broach issues of importance in the participant's life, by referring to problems faced by characters in topical soaps and children's television programmes. Males tend towards factual accounts and hard news, although both sexes do seem to be aware of topical news stories, such as wars and criminal investigations. Importantly, the participants seem to gain comfort from their own knowledge and the common ground held with the adult researcher.
Newspapers provide a useful source of visual stimuli in the form of headlines or photographs.
Introducing wider political concerns, such as drug abuse and unemployment, may also stimulate a powerful and considered response. Problem setting Researchers can also stimulate discussion by asking young participants to propose a solution to a practical problem related to the topic of research. The researcher can then explore the reasons and more abstract beliefs behind the chosen solution, with the participant retaining the ability to support their comments with reference to the original answer. Participants seem particularly willing to deal with problems involved in caring for people of their own or a younger age. This type of stimulus may be combined with the affinity of young people for popular culture by presenting a problem in the style of a teenage magazine problem page.