Open AccessContrasting Internet and Face-to-Face Focus Groups for Children with Chronic Health Conditions: Outcomes and Participant Experiences
Author(s) -
David Nicholas,
Lucyna Lach,
Gillian King,
Marjorie Scott,
Katherine M. Boydell,
Bonita Sawatzky,
Joe Reisman,
Erika Schippel,
Nancy L. Young
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of qualitative methods
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.414
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 1609-4069
DOI - 10.1177/160940691000900102
Subject(s) - focus group , the internet , psychology , asynchronous communication , face to face , cerebral palsy , qualitative research , medical education , developmental psychology , internet privacy , medicine , computer science , world wide web , sociology , psychiatry , computer network , social science , philosophy , epistemology , anthropology
In this study the authors examined Internet-mediated qualitative data collection methods among a sample of children with chronic health conditions. Specifically, focus groups via Internet technology were contrasted to traditional face-to-face focus groups. Internet focus groups consisted of asynchronous text-based chat rooms lasting a total of one week in duration. Participants comprised 23 children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or cystic fibrosis, who were assigned to either an Internet or face-to-face focus group. Focus group analysis and follow-up participant interviews identified a range of content outcomes and processes as well as participant experiences and preferences. Findings yielded differences in terms of the volume and nature of online and face-to-face data, and participants' affinity to focus group modality appeared to reflect differences in participant expectations for social engagement and interaction. This study identifies both benefits and limitations of asynchronous, text-based online focus groups. Implications and recommendations are discussed