ERIC Number: EJ1427416
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1364-5579
EISSN: EISSN-1464-5300
Considerations for Conducting Online Focus Groups on Sensitive Topics
International Journal of Social Research Methodology, v27 n4 p485-490 2024
In response to concerns about the use of online focus groups, particularly around sensitive topics research, we provide two case examples of sensitive topics research that pivoted to online focus groups amid university ethics restrictions due to COVID-19 concerns. We begin by contextualizing the studies, one of which used the more traditional focus group method while the other employed a mix of focus groups and a variation on the World Café method, termed Community Cafés. We discuss issues like online platform choice (Microsoft Teams versus Zoom), security, and considerations for effective participant communication and connection. We demonstrate the effectiveness of online focus group data collection for sensitive research in two disciplines as well as the benefits to participants. We conclude by providing considerations and recommendations based on our own learnings for researchers wanting to conduct online focus group research on sensitive topics.
Descriptors: Focus Groups, Videoconferencing, Young Adults, Foreign Countries, Synchronous Communication, COVID-19, Pandemics, Program Effectiveness, Data Collection, Computer Security, Information Security, Ethics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A