Characteristics of the Discussion in Online and Face-to-Face Focus Groups Export

@article{citeulike:5984346, abstract = {Focus groups are widely used in qualitative research. Recently, focus groups that are held online have become increasingly popular despite the objection by some researchers that the Internet is a poor medium for focus group research. The present study was conducted to reveal differences in the characteristics of focus group discussions in the online and face-to-face formats. Participants in 4 online focus groups and 4 face-to-face focus groups discussed their opinions about several health-related Web sites. Statistical analysis of the transcripts suggested that online participants tended to contribute shorter comments and were more likely to say just a few words of agreement. In the online focus groups, participation levels tended to be more uniform; in the face-to-face groups, some participants tended to contribute a disproportionately large number of words, whereas other participants were relatively silent. The results suggest different roles for online and face-to-face focus groups in qualitative research. 10.1177/089443930202000104}, author = {Schneider, Sid J. and Kerwin, Jeffrey and Frechtling, Joy and Vivari, Benjamin A.}, citeulike-article-id = {5984346}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/089443930202000104}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://ssc.sagepub.com/content/20/1/31.abstract}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://ssc.sagepub.com/content/20/1/31.full.pdf}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1177/089443930202000104}, journal = {Social Science Computer Review}, keywords = {focus\_group, online}, month = {February}, number = {1}, pages = {31--42}, posted-at = {2009-10-22 10:56:55}, priority = {2}, title = {Characteristics of the Discussion in Online and Face-to-Face Focus Groups}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/089443930202000104}, volume = {20}, year = {2002} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5984346 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5984346 N2 - Focus groups are widely used in qualitative research. Recently, focus groups that are held online have become increasingly popular despite the objection by some researchers that the Internet is a poor medium for focus group research. The present study was conducted to reveal differences in the characteristics of focus group discussions in the online and face-to-face formats. Participants in 4 online focus groups and 4 face-to-face focus groups discussed their opinions about several health-related Web sites. Statistical analysis of the transcripts suggested that online participants tended to contribute shorter comments and were more likely to say just a few words of agreement. In the online focus groups, participation levels tended to be more uniform; in the face-to-face groups, some participants tended to contribute a disproportionately large number of words, whereas other participants were relatively silent. The results suggest different roles for online and face-to-face focus groups in qualitative research. 10.1177/089443930202000104 IS - 1 JF - Social Science Computer Review EP - 42 TI - Characteristics of the Discussion in Online and Face-to-Face Focus Groups VL - 20 SP - 31 KW - focus_group KW - online AU - Schneider, Sid AU - Kerwin, Jeffrey AU - Frechtling, Joy AU - Vivari, Benjamin PY - 2002/02/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/089443930202000104 ER -