Education Research with Electronic Focus Groups

2011 ◽  
pp. 345-357
Author(s):  
Kathryn Moyle ◽  
Robert Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Education Research ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Focus Group Research ◽  
Innovative Tool ◽  
Traditional Approaches

An emerging trend in education research methods is to integrate digital technologies into the research process. Electronic focus groups represent one such innovation. Drawing on four examples of research and practice undertaken using a synchronous, digital system, this chapter reflects on how an innovative tool can assist in focus group research in the fields of school and higher education. The examples presented illustrate how some of the theoretical, practical and ethical problems that have arisen with traditional approaches to focus groups research can be overcome. It is anticipated that reflecting on such experiences and building upon the findings of these research projects will enable an understandings about the potential for innovative practices in education research that are possible with digital technologies.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing researchers’ perspectives on involving professionals in research: a group concept mapping study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E. Laustsen ◽  
Albert Westergren ◽  
Pia Petersson ◽  
Maria Haak
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Concept Mapping ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Scaling Analysis ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Group Concept Mapping ◽  
Process Adaptation ◽  
Group Concept

Abstract Background Researchers have shown an increased interest in involving professionals from outside academia in research projects. Professionals are often involved in research on ageing and health when the purpose is to address the gap between research and practice. However, there is a need to acquire more knowledge about what the involvement might lead to by exploring researchers’ experiences of involving professionals in research on ageing and health and developing conceptual areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify conceptual areas of professionals’ involvement in research on ageing and health, from the perspective of researchers themselves. Methods Group concept mapping, a participatory and mixed method, was used to conceptualize areas. Researchers with experience of involving professionals in research projects on ageing and health participated in qualitative data collection through brainstorming sessions (n = 26), and by sorting statements (n = 27). They then took part in quantitative data collection, where they rated statements according to how much a statement strengthened research (n = 26) and strengthened practice (n = 24). Data were analysed using multidimensional scaling analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. In addition, a qualitative analysis of the latent meaning of the cluster map was conducted. Results Analysis of the sorting stage generated five clusters illustrating conceptual areas of professionals’ involvement in research projects on ageing and health. The five clusters are as follows: complex collaboration throughout the research process; adaptation of research to different stakeholders, mutual learning through partnership; applicable and sustainable knowledge; legitimate research on ageing and health. The qualitative latent meaning of the cluster map showed two themes: the process of involvement and the outcome of involvement. A positive strong correlation (0.87) was found between the rating of strengthened research and practice. Conclusions This study reveals conceptual areas on a comprehensive and illustrative map which contributes to the understanding of professionals’ involvement in research on ageing and health. A conceptual basis for further studies is offered, where the aim is to investigate the processes and outcomes entailed in involving professionals in research on ageing and health. The study also contributes to the development of instruments and theories for optimizing the involvement of professionals in research.

Lessons Learned: One Experience With Focus Groups in a School Setting

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Patterson ◽  
Lynn E. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Low Income ◽  
School Achievement ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Research Process ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Focus Group Research

Focus group research is an effective way for school nurses to gain knowledge about a diverse range of issues that children in schools may face. It is a means to gather information about perceptions, feelings, points of view, and manners of thinking from a group of individuals about a specific topic. This article overviews focus groups as a research methodology and describes an experience of using them to gain information about low-income caretakers’ knowledge of childhood nutrition. Several important lessons were learned from this study. These included the need to be flexible during the research process, to be creative in recruitment strategies, to maintain open communication with all the involved parties, and to share enthusiasm for the study. Learning more about children and their families can assist school nurses in planning and implementing interventions that enhance health and school achievement.

‘It's Good to Talk’: The Focus Group and the Sociological Imagination

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Communicative Action ◽  
World View ◽  
Social Scientist ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Sociological Imagination ◽  
Focus Group Research

This paper argues that the critical social scientist can employ the focus group – group discussions focused by a facilitator around a particular topic or area of experience – to recast radically both the social relations and the object of the research process. I explore the potential of the focus group to cultivate the sociological imagination in both the facilitating social scientist and the participants: in Bhaskarian terms, a ‘transformational act’, raising consciousness and empowering participants, rupturing rather than reproducing underlying relations of exploitation and domination. The hitherto dominant forms of focus group research are criticised as being embedded in the epistemological and methodological assumptions of positivism, behaviourism and empiricism, and in social relations which service power. The qualities of the focus group which have attracted the marketer and advertiser – access to the experiential knowledge, opinions and world-view of the participants, in a context of synergic interaction – are examined. The paper argues for an alternative, radical use of focus groups, based on the new politics of knowledge associated with movements of social resistance. The relationship between this radical conception of focus groups and both Habermas's theory of communicative action and Bhaskar's critical realism is discussed and examples of the potential for focus groups to democratise governance and service provision are offered.

A study of practice based design research models from knowledge integration perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Honghai LI ◽  
Jun CAI
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Design Innovation

The transformation of China's design innovation industry has highlighted the importance of design research. The design research process in practice can be regarded as the process of knowledge production. The design 3.0 mode based on knowledge production MODE2 has been shown in the Chinese design innovation industry. On this cognition, this paper establishes a map with two dimensions of how knowledge integration occurs in practice based design research, which are the design knowledge transfer and contextual transformation of design knowledge. We use this map to carry out the analysis of design research cases. Through the analysis, we define four typical practice based design research models from the viewpoint of knowledge integration. This method and the proposed model can provide a theoretical basis and a path for better management design research projects.

scholarly journals Resilient Research in the Field: Insights and Lessons From Adapting Qualitative Research Projects During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692110161
Author(s):  
Syahirah Abdul Rahman ◽  
Lauren Tuckerman ◽  
Tim Vorley ◽  
Cristian Gherhes
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Qualitative Research Methods ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Building Resilience ◽  
Digital Methods

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen the implementation of unprecedented social distancing measures, restricting social interaction and with it the possibility for conducting face-to-face qualitative research. This paper provides lessons from a series of qualitative research projects that were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure their continuation and completion. By reflecting on our experiences and discussing the opportunities and challenges presented by crises to the use of a number of qualitative research methods, we provide a series of insights and lessons for proactively building resilience into the qualitative research process. We show that reflexivity, responsiveness, adaptability, and flexibility ensured continuity in the research projects and highlighted distinct advantages to using digital methods, providing lessons beyond the COVID-19 context. The paper concludes with reflections on research resilience and adaptation during crises.

scholarly journals Conducting focus groups in neurodegenerative disease populations: ethical and methodological considerations

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e041869
Author(s):  
Annabel Jones ◽  
Philippa Morgan-Jones ◽  
Monica Busse ◽  
Victoria Shepherd ◽  
Fiona Wood
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disease ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Focus Group Research ◽  
Group Research ◽  
Methodological Considerations ◽  
Impact Data ◽  
Based Medicine

BackgroundInvolvement of vulnerable populations in research is critical to inform the generalisability of evidence-based medicine to all groups of the population.ObjectiveIn this communication, we reflect on our previous research, and that of other authors, to identify and explore key ethical and methodological considerations.DiscussionFocus groups are a widely implemented qualitative methodology, but their use, particularly in vulnerable neurodegenerative disease populations, is not straightforward. Although the risk of harm is generally low in focus group research, neurodegenerative disease populations are particularly vulnerable to issues relating to comprehension and their capacity to consent. Physical and cognitive impairments may also affect social interactions among participants and therefore impact data collection and analyses.ConclusionWe offer a number of ethical and methodological recommendations to facilitate the processes of recruitment and data collection when conducting focus groups with neurodegenerative disease populations.

Replication of Special Education Research

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Makel ◽  
Jonathan A. Plucker ◽  
Jennifer Freeman ◽  
Allison Lombardi ◽  
Brandi Simonsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Education Research ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Journal Citation Report ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Publication History ◽  
Central Tenet ◽  
History Of

Increased calls for rigor in special education have often revolved around the use of experimental research design. However, the replicability of research results is also a central tenet to the scientific research process. To assess the prevalence, success rate, and authorship history of replications in special education, we investigated the complete publication history of every replication published in the 36 journals categorized by ISI Web of Knowledge Journal Citation Report as special education. We found that 0.5% of all articles reported seeking to replicate a previously published finding. More than 80% of these replications reported successfully replicating previous findings. However, replications where there was at least one author overlapping with the original article (which happens about two thirds of the time) were statistically significantly more likely to find successful results.

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