STEER: Factors to Consider When Designing Online Focus Groups Using Audiovisual Technology in Health Research
STEER: Factors to Consider When Designing Online Focus Groups Using Audiovisual Technology in Health Research
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DOI：
10.1177/1609406919885786
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发表时间：
2019-11-19
影响因子：
5.4
通讯作者：
Wilson, Iseult
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Daniels, Nicola;Gillen, Patricia;Wilson, Iseult
技术的进步和互联网的便利性使得使用基于互联网的视听软件成为研究人员进行重点小组讨论的可行选择。在线平台克服了潜在参与者所在地对抽样的任何地理限制，从而增加了在小组中进行实时讨论和收集数据的机会，否则这些机会可能不可行。虽然研究人员采用基于互联网的选择已有一段时间，但使用视听技术进行的实证评估和公布的焦点小组实例很少。因此，目前尚不能确定以这种方式进行焦点小组讨论是否能够真正反映面对面的讨论，以实现产生数据的真实互动。我们用我们的经验来添加到文献的发展机构，通过分析我们的批判性思考如何程序方面有可能影响我们收集的数据，使用视听技术进行同步焦点小组。作为混合方法研究的一部分，我们选择以这种方式进行焦点小组，以访问地理上分散的人群，并提高样本变异。我们进行了八个在线焦点小组使用视听技术与学术研究人员和医疗保健从业人员在英国的四个地区。在焦点小组的规划、进行和分析过程中，完成了一份反思性日记。对期刊条目进行内容分析，以确定可能影响本研究期间收集的数据的程序因素。确定了五个主题（群体人数的稳定性、技术、环境、评价和征聘），其中包括几类供审议的问题。结合研究人员的思考和其他人的经验，建议采取行动，以尽量减少任何可能影响互动的问题的潜在影响，以帮助其他人谁正在考虑这种方法的数据收集。
Technological advancements and ease of Internet accessibility have made using Internet-based audiovisual software a viable option for researchers conducting focus groups. Online platforms overcome any geographical limitations placed on sampling by the location of potential participants and so enhance opportunities for real-time discussions and data collection in groups that otherwise might not be feasible. Although researchers have been adopting Internet-based options for some time, empirical evaluations and published examples of focus groups conducted using audiovisual technology are sparse. It therefore cannot yet be established whether conducting focus groups in this way can truly mirror face-to-face discussions in achieving the authentic interaction to generate data. We use our experiences to add to the developing body of literature by analyzing our critical reflections on how procedural aspects had the potential to influence the data we collected using audiovisual technology to conduct synchronous focus groups. As part of a mixed methods study, we chose to conduct focus groups in this way to access geographically dispersed populations and to enhance sample variation. We conducted eight online focus groups using audiovisual technology with both academic researchers and health-care practitioners across the four regions of the United Kingdom. A reflexive journal was completed throughout the planning, conduct and analysis of the focus groups. Content analysis of journal entries was carried out to identify procedural factors that had the potential to affect the data collected during this study. Five themes were identified (Stability of group numbers, Technology, Environment, Evaluation, and Recruitment), incorporating several categories of issues for consideration. Combined with the reflections of the researcher and published experiences of others, suggested actions to minimize any potential impacts of issues which could affect interactions are presented to assist others who are contemplating this method of data collection.