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

Abstract

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, which 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 As part of a broader study, we conducted both online and face-to-face focus groups with participants. The online groups were conducted in real-time using the web conferencing service, Blackboard Collaborate TM. We used reflective practice to assess how the conduct and content of the groups were similar and how they differed 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.

Ten Years of ‘Flying the Flag’: An Overview and Retrospective Consideration of the Active School Flag Physical Activity Initiative for Children—Design, Development & Evaluation

“…Due to this part of the research being carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic, the interview was conducted using Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). Kite and Phongsavan (2017) [ 36 ] have reported that the quality of data collected through online communication platforms like Zoom is similar to that which is collected in face-to-face discussions. The ASF website ( ) was searched for information on current application, engagement, and awarding processes of the ASF, while the ASF Administration Office was contacted via email for data relating to adoption of the ASF programme by primary schools.…”

Use of Web Conferencing Technology for Conducting Online Focus Groups Among Young People With Lived Experience of Suicidal Thoughts: Mixed Methods Research

“…In the last 4 years, the W-OFG has been used to engage male victims of partner abuse [17], university students [21], and geographically dispersed health professionals [22-25] in research. In these studies, delivering focus groups via the W-OFG was well received by both participants and researchers due to its convenience and anonymity.…”

“…In these studies, delivering focus groups via the W-OFG was well received by both participants and researchers due to its convenience and anonymity. Importantly, the W-OFG has a similar level of data richness [26] and group interactivity [21] as conventional face-to-face focus groups.…”

Using Online Meeting Software to Facilitate Geographically Dispersed Focus Groups for Health Workforce Research

“…More recently, expansion on the availability and stability of webcam-supported online interactions has provided the opportunity to facilitate focus group participation with physically distant participants in a manner more closely aligned with traditional face-to-face focus groups (Tuttas, 2015). That being said, there are few reported studies that have utilized video software to support online focus group participation (Abrams, Wang, Song, & Galindo-Gonzalez, 2015; Kalmakis, Chandler, Roberts, & Leung, 2017; Kite & Phongsavan, 2017; Tuttas, 2015), and of these studies, only Tuttas (2015) and Abrams et al (2015) have provided analyses of an online video-enabled focus group method. The potential to use online mechanisms to support research activities is growing as the functionality and accessibility of Internet technologies increase; hence, it is important to contribute to the available evidence in this field.…”