Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a three year research project exploring the impacts of an intervention seeking to reduce social isolation in older people. Design/methodology/approach – This study used qualitative research methods and a participative approach to facilitate the generation of the research objectives and process. Participant observation and individual/focus grou...

This paper considers the use of online focus groups as a method for conducting qualitative research in the social sciences. Researchers have increasingly utilised online focus groups involving live, synchronous chat room interactions. However, to date there has been little insight and a lack of discussion as to the applicability of online focus groups in the social sciences. Reflecting on a stu...

The objective of the present study was to identify the fundamental factors associated with patient cooperation during orthodontic treatment. A qualitative study was carried out, following a hermeneutical approach, using focus groups as the data collection instrument. Sample selection consisted of adolescent patients undergoing orthodontic treatment at CES University Dental Clinics in Medellin, ...

System dynamics depends heavily upon quantitative data to generate feedback models. Qualitative data and their analysis also have a central role to play at all levels of the modeling process. Although the classic literature on system dynamics strongly supports this argument, the protocols to incorporate this information during the modeling process are not detailed by the most influential author...

ONF, 41(5), 545–547. doi: 10.1188/14.ONF.545-547 Triangulation refers to the use of multiple methods or data sources in qualitative research to develop a comprehensive understanding of phenomena (Patton, 1999). Triangulation also has been viewed as a qualitative research strategy to test validity through the convergence of information from different sources. Denzin (1978) and Patton (1999) iden...

This paper reports a qualitative evaluation study conducted to explore the perceptions of students joining the Tier 1 Program of the P.A.T.H.S. Project. A total of 92 students were randomly selected to participate in ten focus groups, which provided qualitative data for the study. With specific focus on how the informants described the program, the descriptors used were primarily positive; the ...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the challenges to born-digital institutional archiving, using a New York Archive Museum (NYAM) as a case. Design/methodology/approach – The digital record keeping practices at NYAM were studied using three data sources: a) focus groups with staff, totaling 81 individuals, or approximately one-third of all staff, b) analysis of network file sto...

In a downsizing, employees have to cope with major changes. Their coping strategy influences their level of adaptability. Coping proceeds through sensemaking, and may be either reactive or proactive. This paper reports a study on employees’ sensemaking of critical incidents in a multiple downsizing context. The organization studied, experienced two downsizings in one year. Its culture was based...

Some of the principal arguments in the debate about environmental citizenship are examined with reference to the development of hydrogen energy systems. In particular, qualitative evidence is drawn from a study of public attitudes towards hydrogen energy technologies and their perceived risks and benefits. Using data from focus groups in three areas of the UK, it is argued that while there is a...

Materials and methods Focus group was organized at the end of an educational MS Open-Day meeting at Niguarda Hospital. Focus group (FG) was explained through personal contact, at entry, and by a brief oral presentation. Participating pwMS filled out a registration form, declaring their consent to participate. Two questions were selected. FG was organized by expert psychotherapist and conducted ...