I wonder how some institutions collecting data in big populations as for instance, in hospital. So my journal review for this week is about Online Focus Groups a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations.
Usually they use qualitative study method which consisting separate moderated asynchronous online discussion groups with 7 paediatric cancer patients (aged 8-17) 11 parents, and 18 survivors of childhood cancer (aged 8-17 at diagnosis). All 3 participant groups could be actively engaged over one week period. The finding show that this online focus group methodology us a feasible tool for collecting qualitative data.
The benefits from this online groups are from the result itself show, OFG are feasible alternative method in obtain qualitative information from respondent who, by large majority, would not have joined the study. The parents of children in active treatment for childhood cancer could be actively engaged over a week period and provided balance feedback about relatives pros and cons of online group discussions. So this also provide information that they need.
Another advantage is providing the participants a convenient and comfortable way of joining group discussions. Without controlled by place and time, online participants can contribute to the group discussion at their leisure and individual places. A unique feature in serial group discussions is that it allows participants to choose their time in answering questions, allowing more time to reflect.
Apart from there, this tool also have their limitations. Like traditional focus groups, however, the aim of our study was to achieve a depth of understanding rather than generalization. In order to avoid the pitfall of selection bias, consecutive inclusion of participants was conducted instead of relying on self-selection through the Internet, thereby increasing the representativeness of the sample, and ultimately, the validity of the results. Furthermore, no differences could be detected for responding and non-responding participants. The number of participants might be another limitation. In the present study only four children and three adolescents in active treatment participated. Although this is not unusual in studies of this nature, it is considered to be the minimum group size for a focus group
My concern is, may this method will successful in future in order to have better solution and upgrading their system.
#bigdata #businessintelligence #businessethics
