Open AccessUsing Message Boards to Conduct Online Focus Groups
Author(s) -
David Deggs,
Kenda S. Grover,
Kit Kacirek
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2010.1200
Subject(s) - focus group , focus (optics) , qualitative research , process (computing) , computer science , psychology , online discussion , data collection , medical education , world wide web , sociology , medicine , social science , physics , anthropology , optics , operating 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.