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Abstract The Focus Group ( FG) has been actually employed by marketing, and is becoming importanct also in other areas; such as, education, health, management, decision-making, and information systems, among others. Depending on the research objective, the Focus Groupcan be used alone or in conjunction with other methods. The results obtained from...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... the other hand, FG demands a better preparation of the place itself (where it will happen), as well as more elaboration of the results, since we will probably collect less data than individual interview. Figure 1 presents the advantages and disadvantages of the Focus Group in relation to other research methods. ...
Citations
... With its origins in sociology [10], the focus group is considered a rich qualitative research tool that comes from an informal and carefully planned debate between previously screened individuals. [17] defines this interaction to get clearer perceptions about a defined area of interest, proving to be a considerable source of a wide variety of ideas [14]. ...
... Focus groups were used to allow for discussions between participants on varying perceptions and arguments, thereby creating richness of results. 13 This study was designed in accordance with the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (online supplemental file 1). 14 All participants provided written informed consent. ...
Objectives
Audit and Feedback (A&F) is a widely used quality improvement (QI) intervention in healthcare. However, not all feedback is accepted by professionals. While claims-based feedback has been previously used for A&F interventions, its acceptance by medical specialists is largely unknown. This study examined medical specialists’ acceptance of claims-based A&F for QI.
Design
Qualitative design, with focus group discussions. Transcripts were analysed using discourse analysis.
Setting and participants
A total of five online focus group discussions were conducted between April 2021 and September 2022 with 21 medical specialists from varying specialties (urology; paediatric surgery; gynaecology; vascular surgery; orthopaedics and trauma surgery) working in academic or regional hospitals in the Netherlands.
Results
Participants described mixed views on using claims-based A&F for QI. Arguments mentioned in favour were (1) A&F stimulates reflective learning and improvement and (2) claims-based A&F is more reliable than other A&F. Arguments in opposition were that (1) A&F is insufficient to create behavioural change; (2) A&F lacks clinically meaningful interpretation; (3) claims data are invalid for feedback on QI; (4) claims-based A&F is unreliable and (5) A&F may be misused by health insurers. Furthermore, participants described several conditions for the implementation of A&F which shape their acceptance.
Conclusions
Using claims-based A&F for QI is, for some clinical topics and under certain conditions, accepted by medical specialists. Acceptance of claims-based A&F can be shaped by how A&F is implemented into clinical practice. When designing A&F for QI, it should be considered whether claims data, as the most resource-efficient data source, can be used or whether it is necessary to collect more specific data.
... With regards to the number of participants in qualitative research interview, the traditional number was thought to be eight to ten people. In contemporary marketing, the researchers approve six to eight people (Freitas et al., 1998). From the given population, six people were purposively picked to become participants in the individual indepth interview (IDI). ...
The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of inherence of ethics in personal finance of Muslim Filipinos in Barangay San Jose, Island Garden City of Samal by describing their shared experiences as they engage with a capitalist financial system while upholding Islamic ethical values. This study employed qualitative research design. Specifically, Husserlian phenomenological thematic strategy was used. The population of this research consisted of 550 Muslim Filipinos of Tausug descent. Six people were purposively chosen to be participants for the individual in-depth interview. Another six individuals were tapped for the focus group discussion. Triangulation of data sources for reliability was completed by interviewing the chieftain and the imam who served as key informants. Data were analyzed with the aid of Hermeneutics analysis. The study findings indicated that the participants did have a fundamental knowledge of Islamic ethics. Moreover, the participants were found to have basic understanding of riba-considered central in Islamic finance. The study also indicated that some participants, being situated in a non-Islamic country, were able to uphold ethical values in their personal finance while others failed to do so at least in the area of microfinance. The study recommends that Al-Amanah Islamic bank conduct financial literacy seminar among the participants and in the participants' community. It is also recommended that program heads include Islamic finance subject in the curriculum so as to close knowledge gaps regarding Islamic finance.
... Focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted by interviewing people with knowledge and experience about a research topic (Merriam, 2009). According to Freitas, Oliveira, Jenkins, and Popjoy (1998), Focus Group Discussion (FGD) is particularly suitable when the objective is to understand experiences, ideas, or events. FGD also effectively provides information about individuals' thoughts, feelings, or actions. ...
... Survey development: We followed the recommendations of MacKenzie et al. (2011) for the measurement adaptation and development process. Building on our theoretical foundation, we first conducted a sequential series of focus group workshops to support the conception of a questionnaire (Freitas et al., 1998). We opted for focus groups as a means for collecting data from multiple participants, since this allowed us to evaluate the relevance of theoretically derived constructs from multiple perspectives and to discuss subtle nuances in expression and meaning in the formulation of specific measurement items (Freitas et al., 1998;Stewart et al., 2007). ...
... Building on our theoretical foundation, we first conducted a sequential series of focus group workshops to support the conception of a questionnaire (Freitas et al., 1998). We opted for focus groups as a means for collecting data from multiple participants, since this allowed us to evaluate the relevance of theoretically derived constructs from multiple perspectives and to discuss subtle nuances in expression and meaning in the formulation of specific measurement items (Freitas et al., 1998;Stewart et al., 2007). ...
... In the third workshop, participants grouped and positioned the previously identified constructs in relation to each other and discussed interdependencies. The final workshop was used to review and validate a preliminary version of the conceptual model, including a discussion of the specific formulations in the questionnaire (Freitas et al., 1998). This was the only focus group workshop during which we initially introduced a concrete artefact (the questionnaire constructs and formulations) into the discussion and more strongly moderated the discussion to ensure that all items are reviewed (Freitas et al., 1998). ...
Significant investments in information systems (IS) over the past decades have led to increasingly complex IS architectures in organisations, which are difficult to understand, operate, and maintain. We investigate this development and associated challenges through a conceptual model that distinguishes four constituent elements of IS architecture complexity by differentiating technological from organisational aspects and structural from dynamic aspects. Building on this conceptualisation, we hypothesise relations between these four IS architecture complexity constructs and investigate their impact on architectural outcomes (i.e., efficiency, flexibility, transparency, and predictability). Using survey data from 249 IS managers, we test our model through a partial least squares (PLS) approach to structural equation modelling (SEM). We find that organisational complexity drives technological complexity and that structural complexity drives dynamic complexity. We also demonstrate that increasing IS architecture complexity has a significant negative impact on efficiency, flexibility, transparency, and predictability. Finally, we show that enterprise architecture management (EAM) helps to offset these negative effects by acting as a moderator in the relation between organisational and technological IS architecture complexity. Thus, organisations without adequate EAM are likely to face large increases in technological complexity due to increasing organisational complexity, whereas organisations with adequate EAM exhibit no such relation.
... A natural focus group technique was used to attract members, with recruits taken from pre-existing groups like social or sports clubs (Gaižauskaitė, 2012;Kontio et al., 2008;Parker & Tritter, 2006). Reduced fear between participants and improved desire to participate and argue with acquainted group members are said to be benefits of this technique over forming focus groups of strangers (Freitas et al., 1998). Focus group discussions were guided by a flexible subject guide derived from a previous literature study, consultations with other experts, and prototype focus group sessions. ...
Food safety agencies (FSAs) were formed across the globe as part of a series of food risk (FR) governance changes made in reaction to ongoing food crises in an endeavor to control increasingly industrialized, globalized, and hazardous food chains. Given such substantial changes in governance, little research has been done on how consumers react to, reject, and/or participate with the mentioned new governance systems in non-crisis situations. As a result, the current study looks at how FR is managed on a daily basis from the consumers’ perspective, whose voices are often ignored in food policies. Consumer lived experiences, priorities, and views pertaining to FR governance and the food safety (FS) authority, in particular, are investigated using empirical data from focus groups performed with the general public. This study is framed by a normative framework of multi-scalar governance and what makes it successful or good. As a result, the study promotes FR policy discussions via the lens of normative good FR governance, involving a consumer-perceived assessment of the perceived accountability, openness, and efficacy of FR governing mechanisms. The article closes by constructively considering the potential and constraints of adopting more adaptable forms of governance in the multi-scalar and changing the policy framework that defines FR.
... We conducted a stakeholder focus group workshop facilitated by the principal investigator and two trained assistants, which lasted approximately 65 minutes [22]. All discussions were audio recorded. ...
Background:
Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technological innovations from startup companies used in clinical practice can yield better health outcomes, reduce health care costs, and improve patients' experience. However, the integration, translation, and adoption of these technologies into clinical practice are plagued with many challenges and are lagging. Furthermore, explanations of the impediments to clinical translation are largely unknown and have not been systematically studied from the perspective of AI and digital health care startup founders and executives.
Objective:
The aim of this paper is to describe the barriers to integrating early-stage technologies in clinical practice and health care systems from the perspectives of digital health and health care AI founders and executives.
Methods:
A stakeholder focus group workshop was conducted with a sample of 10 early-stage digital health and health care AI founders and executives. Digital health, health care AI, digital health-focused venture capitalists, and physician executives were represented. Using an inductive thematic analysis approach, transcripts were organized, queried, and analyzed for thematic convergence.
Results:
We identified the following four categories of barriers in the integration of early-stage digital health innovations into clinical practice and health care systems: (1) lack of knowledge of health system technology procurement protocols and best practices, (2) demanding regulatory and validation requirements, (3) challenges within the health system technology procurement process, and (4) disadvantages of early-stage digital health companies compared to large technology conglomerates. Recommendations from the study participants were also synthesized to create a road map to mitigate the barriers to integrating early-stage or novel digital health technologies in clinical practice.
Conclusions:
Early-stage digital health and health care AI entrepreneurs identified numerous barriers to integrating digital health solutions into clinical practice. Mitigation initiatives should create opportunities for early-stage digital health technology companies and health care providers to interact, develop relationships, and use evidence-based research and best practices during health care technology procurement and evaluation processes.
... In a study by Kelly, Tyrka, Price, and Carpenter [53], the adverse effect on women of the use of some copings strategies was found to be larger, while most coping strategies were used by both male and female participants. We set out to attract more male participants, because mixed gender groups tend to improve the quality of discussions [54], and we managed to have a male participant in a pedigree dog group, a high-risk dog group and a foreign shelter dog group. No difference which could be explained by gender bias was noticed between the groups with and without male participants. ...
Zoonoses, biting incidents, hereditary problems, and other issues can threaten the welfare of both humans and dogs. The Dutch government and animal welfare organizations seem to have little effect in their campaigns to influence the behavior of (potential) dog keepers, who can experience dissonance when faced with these campaigns and use coping strategies to relieve the dissonance instead of changing their behavior. In this study, in focus group discussions, dog keepers with pedigree dogs, high-risk dogs, foreign shelter dogs, and dogs purchased at puppy farms shared their experiences with opinions on dogs and were confronted with negative opinions on their dogs. The data were analyzed using a coping strategies framework. Most coping strategies were found in all groups, but were used in response to different dilemmas, with different manifestations. These differences should be kept in mind when behavior change in dog keepers is opportune. Special attention should be given to differentiating target groups, as use of the detachment coping strategy suggests that boundaries might be set differently than expected. Broad attention on problems with and for dogs can address perceived dissonance and prompt behavior change. In dialogue with dog keepers, in influential campaigns and in policy formulation, the chances of success are greater if initiators are aware of the strategies that they may encounter.
... The discussions continued until the participants reached an agreement and consensus about the users' attributes. Mixed-gender groups improve the quality of discussions, allowing for more precise results (Freitas et al., 1998), and for this reason, a mixed-gender group was formed consisting of six males and six females. The ages of the participants ranged between 20 and 60 years. ...
This study examines the differences in travel behavior between regular and occasional demand-responsive transport users (public transport users), determines the level of service satisfaction, and identifies the key factors of commuters' preferences of using the demand-responsive transport regularly or occasionally for a small-sized urban area (<50 km 2). Data were supplemented through field surveys and by focus group discussions. Binary logistic regression and correlation models were used. It is found that probabilities of irregularity are higher for rural areas, male commuters, short trips, educational trips, low-income groups, and non-direct trips. All users are generally satisfied with the service. The most important factors for occasional users are waiting time, trip cost, and trip duration. On the other hand, regular users pay more attention to cleanliness, safety, and comfort. Scheduling of public transportation lines that serve educational zones and provide accessibility to rural areas are needed to improve the quality and attractiveness of the services.
... Focus group discussion is used to gain in-depth insights on a specific topic from a group of participants with common experiences (Nyumba et al., 2018). It allows researchers to derive through spontaneous interaction among participants rich, flexible data that is not easily achieved with other sole instruments (Freitas et al., 1998). Induction is the process of validating knowledge either by logic or by experience (Bendassolli, 2013), aiming to bridge existing singular facts and general statements regarding multiple facts and their future manifestation (Lincoln and Guba, 2000). ...
