Focus groups are used by researchers in the social and behavioural sciences to explore phenomena and are accepted as a legitimate qualitative methodology. The primary goal of focus groups is to use interaction data resulting from discussion among participants to increase the depth of the enquiry and reveal aspects of the phenomenon assumed to be otherwise less accessible. This article, the firs...

There is a sharp divide between quantitative and qualitative methodologies in the social sciences. We investigate an innovative way to bridge this gap that incorporates quantitative techniques into a qualitative method, the “quanti-qualitative method” (QQM). Specifically, our research utilized small survey questionnaires and experiment-like activities as part of the question route in a series o...

Practical knowledge on how to tailor research methods for Asian Americans is relatively scarce despite the rapid population growth of this ethnic group and the ongoing calls for greater cultural competence among researchers. Based on a 4-year qualitative study of family and cultural issues in diabetes management among Chinese American immigrants, this article presents data-based analyses of cul...

BACKGROUND Focus group interviews are a method for collecting qualitative data and have enjoyed a surge in popularity in health care research over the last 20 years. However, the literature on this method is ambiguous in relation to the size, constitution, purpose and execution of focus groups. AIM The aim of this article is to explore some of the methodological issues arising from using focu...

Suicide is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people aged 15-24 years of age. This paper illustrates the use of focus groups with young people to enhance knowledge of ways to address youth suicide. Analysis of the findings identified three themes perceived by participants as being warning signs of a suicidal friend (personality changes, risk-taking behaviour and unusual actions). ...

While scholars have made an extensive research contribution on the field of customers ́ online trust towards domestic retailers, customers’ international online trust has not yet attracted researchers’ attention. Following the extensive expansion of customers’ online purchasing the purpose of this paper is to gain a deeper knowledge of the multidimensionality of trust in customer international o...

Certain attributes of information and communication technology have many potentially useful applications for qualitative research. With reference to an exploratory study, in this paper we consider how online discussion boards can facilitate the collection of qualitative data from focus group interviews. We also evaluate the advantages and limitations of conducting these interviews through onlin...