Shades of Gray: A Qualitative Study of Terms Used in the Measurement of Sexual Victimization

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry L. Hamby ◽  
Mary P. Koss
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Sexual Victimization ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Physical Size ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Victimization Surveys ◽  
Victimization Research

Methodological analyses of sexual victimization research are still rare, despite the explosion of interest in this topic and widely varying rates across studies. In-depth analysis of the meaning of differences in rates is especially lacking. A series of five ethnically and geographically diverse focus groups were held to explore how wording in sexual victimization surveys affects the reporting of various types of negative sexual experiences. Participants provided rich formulations about sexual intercourse that suggest there is a wide range of coercion, from peer pressure to lose one's virginity to partner pressure to demonstrate one's commitment to stereotypical forced rape. Focus group participants asserted that many terms that are often used synonymously, such as unwanted, nonvoluntary, and forced, have distinct meanings. They also described how different social pressures on women and men, and differences in physical size lead to inevitable differences in perceptions of coerciveness. Although recent sexual victimization surveys have increased the specificity of descriptions of sexual acts, these findings suggest that it is equally important to be precise in communicating what is meant by coercion.

59. General medicine residents' perception of the mini-CEXs

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
S. Malhotra ◽  
R. Hatala ◽  
C.-A. Courneya
Keyword(s):  
Internal Medicine ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Medical Teacher ◽  
The Impact

The mini-CEX is a 30 minute observed clinical encounter. It can be done in the outpatient, inpatient or emergency room setting. It strives to look at several parameters including a clinical history, physical, professionalism and overall clinical competence. Trainees are rated using a 9-point scoring system: 1-3 unsatisfactory, 4-6 satisfactory and 7-9 superior. Eight months after the introduction of the mini-CEX to the core University of British Columbia Internal Medicine Residents, a one hour semi-structured focus group for residents in each of the three years took place. The focus groups were conducted by an independent moderator, audio-recorded and transcribed. Using a phenomenological approach the comments made by the focus groups participants were read independently by three authors, organized into major themes. In doing so, several intriguing common patterns were revealed on how General Medicine Residents perceive their experience in completing a mini-CEX. The themes include Education, Assessment and Preparation for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Internal Medicine exam. Resident learners perceived that the mini-CEX process provided insight into their clinical strengths and weaknesses. Focus group participants favored that the mini-CEX experience will benefit them in preparation, and successful completion of their licensing exam. Daelmans HE, Overmeer RM, van der Hem-Stockroos HH, Scherpbier AJ, Stehouwer CD, van der Vleuten CP. In-training assessment: qualitative study of effects on supervision and feedback in an undergraduate clinical rotation. Medical Education 2006; 40(1):51-8. De Lima AA, Henquin R, Thierer J, Paulin J, Lamari S, Belcastro F, Van der Vleuten CPM. A qualitative study of the impact on learning of the mini clinical evaluation exercise in postgraduate training. Medical Teacher January 2005; 27(1):46-52. DiCicco-Bloom B, Crabtree BF. The Qualitative Research Interview. Medical Education 2006; 40:314-32.

scholarly journals Focus Groups in Hospitality Research Why are they not used in Jordan?

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 348
Author(s):  
Mousa Masadeh ◽  
Mukhles Al-Ababneh ◽  
Samer Al-Sabi ◽  
Bashar Maaiah
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Research Tool ◽  
Group Training ◽  
Educational Funding ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Research And Education

The purpose of this study is to identify the reasons for the lack of focus groups in Jordan by conducting a focus group with twenty four Academics from Jordanian Universities. Focus groups are commonly used for academic purposes and taught at colleges and universities. The outcome of focus groups for marketing, especially in the tourism industry, is a beneficial learning tool. Focus groups, however, are rarely used for a number of reasons. This research tool is foreign to university students, and unless they study abroad, they are not exposed to a wide range of research and education tools. There are barriers that exist with focus groups. These barriers include: government and educational funding, cultural limitations, personal expectations, teaching materials and resources. Following this research, the recommendations are to have focus groups implemented in Jordanian school systems and to conduct focus group training sessions, encourage students to use them as a research tool and explain the link between focus groups and the hospitality industry. By limiting curriculums in Jordanian education systems, students will not have the proper knowledge or skills once they graduate to compete with markets outside of Jordan. Recommendations are discussed based on the author’s research findings.

Are you a mentor? A qualitative study: imago-graphic students’ mirror views

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 652-661
Author(s):  
Rania Alkhadragy
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Negative Perception ◽  
Personal Support ◽  
Self Development ◽  
The Common ◽  
Group Focus ◽  
Essential Skills

Objectives: Mentoring is widely acknowledged for providing support, fostering students’ learning and self-development. This study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University with the following objectives, exploring students’ perception of their mentors, analysing expected roles and essential skills for mentors. Methodology: A qualitative study was conducted. A focus group was planned in the first mentorship session, a sample of 30  year 1 and 2 students divided into 2 focus groups  (n=15 students per a focus group). Focus group started with an imaginary students’ drawing of the mentor followed by further analysis and discussion. Results: Data displayed in a graphical format, and then further discussed to have more details. Three main themes had emerged: perception of mentors, role of the mentor and expectations from mentors. Perception was then analysed into positive, where the ease of communication was mostly discussed, and negative perception where the fear of humiliation was one of the common students’ fears. For mentors’ roles, guidance for portfolio submission was the highest frequency (45%) then came the role of academic and personal support (30%).   Conclusion: Mentorship experience is a rich process of interaction and communication between mentors and mentees. Mentors should receive appropriate training to be well prepared for their roles. This study provides practical insights into essential skills mentors should have for an effective mentorship experience. Keywords: mentorship, info-graphic, mentors, qualitative, focus group

scholarly journals Chronic Pain Self-Management Program for Low-Income Patients: Themes from a Qualitative Inquiry

Pain Medicine ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. e1-e8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J Turner ◽  
Natalia Rodriguez ◽  
Raudel Bobadilla ◽  
Arthur E Hernandez ◽  
Zenong Yin
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Pain Medication ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Theory Approach

Abstract Objective To examine factors influencing initial engagement, ongoing participation, learned behaviors, and subjective functional outcomes after a trial of the Living Better Beyond Pain (LBBP) chronic pain self-management program. Design Qualitative study using the Grounded Theory approach. Setting Two 60-minute focus groups and phone interviews in May 2017. Subjects Focus groups with 18 participants who completed LBBP and six-month measures; telephone interviews with 17 participants who stopped attending. Methods Study coordinators randomly selected program completers for focus groups and conducted phone interviews with noncompleters. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in semantic content with a recursive process applied to focus group transcripts and interview transcriptions to codify into themes. Themes were categorized according to the Theory of Planned Behavior. Results Focus group and telephone interview participants were primarily Hispanic and unemployed. Attitudes fostering participation in LBBP included dissatisfaction with the status quo, need to reduce pain medication, and lack of training and knowledge about chronic pain. Positive social norms from meeting others with chronic pain and support from the LBBP team encouraged attendance and adoption of behaviors. Transportation, pain, and competing activities were barriers, whereas adapting activities for the disabled was a facilitator. Maintaining behaviors and activities at home was challenging but ultimately rewarding due to improvement in daily function with less pain medication. Conclusions This qualitative study complements quantitative results showing clinically significant improvements in function after the LBBP program by adding practical insights into ways to increase participation and outcomes. Participants strongly endorsed the need for chronic pain self-management training.

scholarly journals Using Focus Group in the Development of UNIPA Emotional Autonomy Inventory

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Grazia Lo Cricchio ◽  
Alida Lo Coco ◽  
Sonia Ingoglia ◽  
Francesca Liga ◽  
Rodan Di Maria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Clinical Psychology ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Final Version ◽  
Emotional Autonomy ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Definition Of

Focus groups were used in order to develop a new measure of adolescents' emotional autonomy from parents. The procedure started from an in depth analysis of the literature concerning the construct and a definition of the dimensions which characterize it. Following our idea of the construct, we developed a list of 60 items, getting some of them from existing instruments. Twenty-four adolescents participated in the focus group discussions about the adequacy of the items to measure emotional autonomy. Following their feedbacks a second version of the list with 59 items was presented in a focus group with experts in the field of developmental and clinical psychology, who were called to judge the ability of each item to evaluate the construct. Resulting from the indications emerged in this discussion, a final version of the scale with 66 items was developed and called UNIPA Adolescent Emotional Autonomy Inventory.

Engaging the Public on Technical Issues

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Breen ◽  
Elizabeth Atherton ◽  
Steve Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
The Uk

United Kingdom Nirex Limited (Nirex) is responsible for providing the UK with environmentally-sound and publicly-acceptable options for the long-term management of radioactive materials generated by the Nation’s commercial, medical, research and defence activities. An important part of Nirex’s responsibilities in developing these options is to build acceptance of its concepts through effective dialogue and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. One of the options developed by Nirex for the long-term isolation of intermediate-level and some low-level from the accessible environment is to place these wastes in a deep underground repository, excavated in stable rock formations. The repository would remain accessible to allow future generations to have the choice of continuing to store the waste, or to dispose of the wastes by sealing and closing the repository. In conducting the scientific and technical research on this phased disposal concept, Nirex wanted its work programmes to take account of any public concerns with regard to radioactive waste and its management and proposed to develop its understanding of such concerns through public engagement. In October 2001, Nirex engaged an independent organisation to conduct a series of focus group discussions. Focus group meetings were arranged in 4 locations across the UK, selecting varying groups in terms of age, lifestage and socio-economic circumstances in order to engage a broad cross-section of the UK population. Each group attended two, 2-hour sessions on successive evenings. The first session was a general discussion of the issues of nuclear energy and radioactive waste. The second session focused on the more specific detail of the Nirex Phased Disposal Concept. Explanatory material was given to participants at each session. The work has provided some very useful information on issues, which the focus groups considered significant. The groups were able, in the short time available, to grasp many important issues and to provide their views across a range of technical areas. This work has helped Nirex to better understand ways of engaging the public in technical issues and to appreciate some of the key areas and concerns on the more technical areas associated with phased disposal. Several technical queries were identified, which the facilitators were unable to answer during the focus group discussions — Nirex has subsequently provided answers to these questions and made these available on the Nirex Bibliography. This paper describes the approach taken for the focus groups and outlines key findings from the work and some implications for Nirex in communicating technical issues to the public.

scholarly journals Embracement as an analyzer of the relationships between professionals, managers and users

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinira Magali Fortuna ◽  
Karemme Ferreira de Oliveira ◽  
Adriana Barbieri Feliciano ◽  
Mônica Vilchez da Silva ◽  
Flávio Adriano Borges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Institutional Analysis ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
The Media ◽  
Group Sessions ◽  
Service Managers

Abstract OBJECTIVE Analyzing the relationships among professionals and between professionals with managers and users based on the user embracement analyzer. METHOD A qualitative study incorporating the theoretical-methodological reference of institutional analysis. The data were produced through focus groups and organized from transcription, transposition and reconstitution. Seventeen (17) focus group sessions were conducted involving six municipalities and health professionals from various backgrounds. RESULTS 137 professionals participated in this study. User embracement has been carried out with the aim to organize spontaneous demand. Doctors have not been directly involved, although they have the final say. Intermediate nursing deals with the users and nurses perform important negotiation work among the network sectors. The receptionists and the community agents develop the first approach to the users, forwarding them to nursing to negotiate the service. Managers hope to avoid complaints by attending everyone. Users take advantage of party politics and of the media for services when there is no access. CONCLUSION User embracement is an analyzer, since it produces visibility and readability of the relations being produced in health services, and when analyzed can lead to denaturalizing these actions.

Service-learning from the views of university teachers: a qualitative study based on focus groups

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T.L. Shek ◽  
Stephen C.F. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Undergraduate Curriculum ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Group Interviews

Abstract Under the New Undergraduate Curriculum at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), students are required to take a 3-credit subject to fulfill service-learning requirements. To understand the views of teachers regarding service-learning, five focus group interviews (n=33) are conducted to examine the perceived characteristics and myths of service-learning as well as colleagues’ views on the policy at PolyU. Results showed that most informants are aware of service-learning and have seen its benefits to both students and teachers. Most informants also possess positive views about service-learning. Nevertheless, in terms of service-learning at PolyU, three different groups of views on service-learning are observed, namely, positive, negative, and mixed views. This paper also discusses teachers’ views on the anticipated difficulties of service-learning implementation and the ways, by which to promote the subject in the PolyU context.

scholarly journals Defining what a ‘carer’ is and the role they play in in-patient mental healthcare: A focus group study with patients, carers and clinicians

BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysegul Dirik ◽  
Justina Kaselionyte ◽  
Domenico Giacco ◽  
Stefan Priebe
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Perceived Helpfulness

Background The value of carer involvement has been extensively researched and promoted. However, the field lacks exploration of conceptual issues, which might help to explain why there are widespread difficulties in putting policy into practice in this area, as implementation rates remain low internationally. Aims This qualitative study explored patients’, carers’ and clinicians’ perspectives on the role of carers in mental healthcare, particularly with regards to in-patient settings. Method Sixteen focus groups were conducted with patients, carers and clinicians who have current or previous experience of in-patient settings. A thematic analysis was conducted on the transcripts, exploring two key domains: (a) what a ‘carer’ is, and (b) how the ‘carer’ role is described within the context of the hospital environment. Results Participants diverged in their opinions of what the ‘carer’ role entails, and the perceived helpfulness of it. Issues unique to the in-patient setting were identified, such as the role of the hospital environment in enabling or being a barrier to carer involvement. These differing perspectives and contextual factors had an impact on the position of carers in the hospital setting, as they could be viewed as helpful, a hindrance or as passive visitors, depending on the perspectives of clinicians. Conclusions More clarity and agreement is needed between patients, carers and clinicians in terms of how the ‘carer’ role is defined. This has the potential to improve carers’ experience of involvement in hospital settings.

The views of social workers and special guardians on planning contact for special guardianship children

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-250
Author(s):  
Nicholas Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Group Method ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Permanency Planning ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose Special guardianship order (SGO) assessments require social workers to make plans and recommendations for ongoing post-SGO contact between the child and the parents. However, there is very little policy to inform and guide practitioners on how these duties should be undertaken, and no studies that describe current practice. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the recommending of contact in special guardianship cases is currently working, by holding focus groups with social workers and special guardians. This paper reports on the results of a study to examine what contact plans social workers are recommending, the thinking behind their decisions and the views of the special guardians who have to make those plans work. Design/methodology/approach The research involved a mixed methods approach comprising of an online questionnaire, two focus groups for social workers and two focus groups for special guardians. This paper describes the second part of the study and reports on the qualitative results from the four focus groups. The methodology was based on a pragmatist theoretical position, and used an interpretivist approach and elements of the analytical procedure of grounded theory in order to generate inductive research. The focus group method was chosen as the best way to gather rich information on the opinions and ideas of practitioners who are recommending contact and the carers who are managing it. Findings Participants provided a wide range of views on the issues, with practitioners describing the challenges of planning contact, and special guardians explaining the problems they faced with the parents. Involving special guardians in the study gave a chance to include the different perspectives of the people who have to make the contact recommendations work, and contrast their views on contact planning with those of the professionals. The study makes recommendations for practice, which recognise the difficulty of preparing an initial contact plan that will remain relevant for years ahead. Research limitations/implications The number of focus groups the author held was limited by the author’s own personal resources and the time the author had available, and one group only had three social workers on the day. The author’s involvement affected the responses, and the author’s questions dictated the issues that were commented on, but the answers were the opinions that the participants wanted to express. The nature of the approach means that no two sets of focus group results would ever be the same. And as the direction of the discussions was largely dictated by the participants, the coverage of all aspects of contact was probably inconsistent. Practical implications This research sheds light on a crucial area of social work permanency planning, that has suffered from a lack of previous research, in order to better inform future practice. The paper reports on what contact plans social workers are recommending, the thinking behind their decisions and the views of the special guardians who have to make those plans work. It concludes with recommendations for improving future special guardianship policy and practice. Social implications The research clearly raises a number of specific difficulties faced by special guardians and problems with current policy and practice. These include the special guardians’ lack of understanding about contact, the difficulty for social workers of long-term planning, the challenge posed by uncooperative parents who behave badly, the view of carers for the need for a greater emphasis on the quality and reliability of contact, and the challenge to careful contact planning posed by the adversarial court process. Originality/value Special guardianship has had a major impact on permanency planning since its introduction 12 years ago. However, apart from one DfE study in 2014, very little research has been produced to inform policy and practice. There have been no studies specifically on contact in special guardianship cases, despite contact being one of the two major factors in determining the success of SGO placements. This study has provided the first in-depth evaluation of social worker contact planning in special guardianship, and the first investigation of special guardians’ views on contact.

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