scholarly journals Reflections on Online Focus Group Research With Low Socio-Economic Status African American Adults During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692110217
Author(s):  
Lorraine Lathen ◽  
Linnea Laestadius
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has sped the adoption of online data collection approaches among qualitative researchers. While videoconferencing software has been a tremendous resource for replicating key aspects of the face-to-face focus group environment, online approaches to data collection also face unique challenges. Prior work has offered insights on the value of face-to-face versus online focus groups and strategies for improving the online focus group experience for participants and moderators. However, little has been published on the unique needs of participants from low socio-economic status (SES) populations. In light of the digital divide and the ways in which COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities, researchers must seriously reflect on the ways in which SES and online methods intersect. To address this gap, we present reflections on two online focus groups conducted with low SES African American adults during COVID-19 to offer recommendations on areas of concern and potential solutions for researchers to consider. Three areas stand out as particularly important for reflection: (1) participant privacy, (2) online connectivity, (3) support and time allocations. Greater attention to the impact of SES can help ensure improved opportunities for full and equitable participation, allowing the voices of those who have been marginalized to be heard more clearly.

scholarly journals Adapting to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a randomized controlled trial examining lifestyle behaviors on cognitive functioning in obese African American adults: Building Research in Diet and Cognition (BRIDGE)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Fitzgibbon ◽  
Lara Blumstein ◽  
Linda Schiffer ◽  
Mirjana Antonic ◽  
Andrew McLeod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
African American ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Building Research ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the research landscape for clinical trials, requiring thoughtful consideration regarding how to handle the risks and benefits of continuing them. Design. This brief report describes the experience of adapting the Building Research in Diet and Cognition (BRIDGE) study, a randomized clinical trial examining the effects of the Mediterranean Diet, with and without weight loss, on cognitive functioning in 185 older obese African American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measurement. The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) developed an expedited amendment process for research shifting to remote data collection. For the Cohort 3, 14-month data collection period, we adapted our protocol to allow data collection via telephone and e-mail. We were unable to collect certain measures that required face-to face contact. Results. For measures that could be collected remotely, 14-month retention was similar for Cohort 3 and earlier cohorts: data were collected for 86.9% of cohort 3 (remote) and 87.9% of cohorts 1 and2 (face to face), p = .84. Conclusions. In order to preserve the integrity of our clinical trial and ensure the safety of our participants and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to carefully and efficiently adapt our data collection procedures. The procedures put in place allowed us to collect our primary outcomes and the majority of our secondary outcomes and will enable us to examine the role of dietary intake, with and without weight loss, on cognitive functioning in a vulnerable and high-risk population. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03129048

Stance Analysis

2011 ◽  
pp. 262-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peyton Mason ◽  
Boyd Davis ◽  
Deborah Bosley
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
Online Chat ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Focus Group Data ◽  
Marketing Information

In this chapter, we will first discuss what stance is and highlight how we identify and measure stance using multivariate techniques, using an ongoing example taken from an Online Financial Focus Group. We review differences in stance between online real-time focus groups and online chat, as well as between online and face-to-face focus groups; and finally, proffer examples of stance analysis in two very different online focus groups: older adults discussing financial services and teens discussing clothes. As marketers see that online focus groups offer valuable marketing information by understanding the significance of how something is said as well as what is said, their confidence in the use of online focus-group data should increase.

scholarly journals STEER: Factors to Consider When Designing Online Focus Groups Using Audiovisual Technology in Health Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 160940691988578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Daniels ◽  
Patricia Gillen ◽  
Karen Casson ◽  
Iseult Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Practitioners ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Journal Entries

Technological advancements and ease of Internet accessibility have made using Internet-based audiovisual software a viable option for researchers conducting focus groups. Online platforms overcome any geographical limitations placed on sampling by the location of potential participants and so enhance opportunities for real-time discussions and data collection in groups that otherwise might not be feasible. Although researchers have been adopting Internet-based options for some time, empirical evaluations and published examples of focus groups conducted using audiovisual technology are sparse. It therefore cannot yet be established whether conducting focus groups in this way can truly mirror face-to-face discussions in achieving the authentic interaction to generate data. We use our experiences to add to the developing body of literature by analyzing our critical reflections on how procedural aspects had the potential to influence the data we collected using audiovisual technology to conduct synchronous focus groups. As part of a mixed methods study, we chose to conduct focus groups in this way to access geographically dispersed populations and to enhance sample variation. We conducted eight online focus groups using audiovisual technology with both academic researchers and health-care practitioners across the four regions of the United Kingdom. A reflexive journal was completed throughout the planning, conduct and analysis of the focus groups. Content analysis of journal entries was carried out to identify procedural factors that had the potential to affect the data collected during this study. Five themes were identified ( Stability of group numbers, Technology, Environment, Evaluation, and Recruitment), incorporating several categories of issues for consideration. Combined with the reflections of the researcher and published experiences of others, suggested actions to minimize any potential impacts of issues which could affect interactions are presented to assist others who are contemplating this method of data collection.

scholarly journals Using Message Boards to Conduct Online Focus Groups

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Deggs ◽  
Kenda Grover ◽  
Kit Kacirek
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Message Board ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Message Boards ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Geographic Dispersion ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Board System

Geographic dispersion of research subjects can make traditional face-to-face focus groups difficult if not impractical to conduct. Online focus groups have many advantages such as enabling researchers to save costs, allowing for more efficient collection of data, and allowing researchers to accommodate research subjects' schedules. However, online focus groups require greater skill on the part of the researcher and research subjects alike. This manuscript chronicles the process that we recently used to conduct an online focus group using a message board system with graduate students enrolled in an online degree program. We explain the processes that were followed in conducting our study and the rationale behind the decisions that we made as qualitative researchers. Finally, we offer guidance and insight for other qualitative researchers who wish to utilize message boards to conduct online focus groups.

scholarly journals Using Social Media in health research with women of reproductive age: Online Focus Groups on Facebook (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Gry Temmesen ◽  
Henriette Svarre Nielsen ◽  
Heidi Lene Myglegård Andersen ◽  
Kathrine Birch Petersen ◽  
Jane Clemensen
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Qualitative Health Research ◽  
Online Focus Groups

BACKGROUND Social media provides new possibilities within health research, especially in hard-to-reach populations. Women in Denmark and around the world postpone motherhood and risk infertility due to their advanced age when they try to conceive. To this date, no studies have explored Danish women’s reflections on timing of motherhood within a social media setting. OBJECTIVE To explore Facebook as a platform for qualitative health research for women of reproductive age. METHODS A qualitative study based on three online focus groups on the social media Facebook with 26 Danish women of reproductive age discussing timing of motherhood in January 2020. RESULTS Conducting online focus groups on Facebook were successful to this study as it made recruitment easy and free of charge, and the online approach was found eligible for qualitative data collection. All participants found it to be a positive experience to participate in an online focus group. More than half of the women participating in the online focus groups, felt that it was an advantage to meet on Facebook instead of meeting face-to-face. CONCLUSIONS Conducting online focus groups on Facebook is an eligible method to access qualitative data from women of reproductive age. Participants were positive towards being a part of an online focus group. Online focus groups on social media have the potential to give women of reproductive age a voice in the debate of motherhood.

Toward Theory and Technique for Online Focus Groups

2011 ◽  
pp. 193-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albino Claudio Bosio ◽  
Guendaline Graffigna ◽  
Edoardo Lozza
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Discussion Groups ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Different Levels

Starting from a review of current dominant points of view about online focus groups, the authors outline the results of a research project in which they compared face-to-face discussion groups with different formats of online focus groups (forum; chat; forum plus chat) in order to identify their methodological specificities. The comparison was conducted with young adults on three health-related topics with different levels of social sensitivity. Systematic analysis of the conversational and thematic characteristics of all discussion transcripts revealed interesting characteristics of the four focus group techniques considered. The results corroborate the view that the research setting influences the findings production process in qualitative research, and might be the basis for a theory of online focus group techniques that can orient the researcher in choosing the online focus group technique best suited to his or her study aims and topics.

scholarly journals Going virtual: adapting in-person interactive focus groups to the online environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Jonathan Menary ◽  
Stacia Stetkiewicz ◽  
Abhishek Nair ◽  
Petra Jorasch ◽  
Amrit K. Nanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Food System ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Short Notice ◽  
Key Steps ◽  
Video Calling ◽  
The Impact

Restrictions on social interaction and travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected how researchers approach fieldwork and data collection. Whilst online focus groups have received attention since the 2000s as a method for qualitative data collection, relatively little of the relevant literature appears to have made use of now ubiquitous video calling software and synchronous, interactive discussion tools. Our own experiences in organising fieldwork aimed at understanding the impact of different ‘future-proofing’ strategies for the European agri-food system during this period resulted in several methodological changes being made at short notice. We present an approach to converting in-person focus group to a virtual methodology and provide a checklist for researchers planning their own online focus groups. Our findings suggest data are comparable to in-person focus groups and factors influencing data quality during online focus groups can be safeguarded. There are several key steps, both before and during the focus groups, which can be taken to ensure the smooth running of such events. We share our reflections on this approach and provide a resource for other researchers moving to online-only data collection.

scholarly journals Insights for conducting real-time focus groups online using a web conferencing service

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 122 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Kite ◽  
Philayrath Phongsavan
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Web Conferencing ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Health Related Research ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

Background: Online focus groups have been increasing in use over the last 2 decades, including in biomedical and health-related research. However, most of this research has made use of text-based services such as email, discussion boards, and chat rooms that do not replicate the experience of face-to-face focus groups. Web conferencing services have the potential to more closely match the face-to-face focus group experience, including important visual and aural cues. This paper provides critical reflections on using a web conferencing service to conduct online focus groups.Methods: We conducted both online and face-to-face focus groups as part of the same study. The online groups were conducted in real-time using the web conferencing service, Blackboard CollaborateTM. We used reflective practice to assess the similarities and differences in the conduct and content of the groups across the two platforms.Results: We found that further research using such services is warranted, particularly when working with hard-to-reach or geographically dispersed populations. The level of discussion and the quality of the data obtained was similar to that found in face-to-face groups. However, some issues remain, particularly in relation to managing technical issues experienced by participants and ensuring adequate recording quality to facilitate transcription and analysis.Conclusions: Our experience with using web conferencing for online focus groups suggests that they have the potential to offer a realistic and comparable alternative to face-to-face focus groups, especially for geographically dispersed populations such as rural and remote health practitioners. Further testing of these services is warranted but researchers should carefully consider the service they use to minimise the impact of technical difficulties.

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