Asynchronous Online Focus Groups for Health Research: Case Study and Lessons Learned

Abstract

Increasingly, social life-and accordingly, social research-is conducted in online environments. Asynchronous online focus groups (AOFGs) have emerged as an important tool to conduct remote research with geographically diverse populations. However, there remain few systematic accounts of AOFG methods to guide researchers' decision-making in designing and implementing studies. This paper seeks to address this gap by describing a recent study on body image and health among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) young adults. In this study, eight AOFGs were conducted in August-October 2019 with 66 TGD young adults residing in 25 U.S. states. Each AOFG lasted four consecutive days with two prompts posted by moderators per day. Overall, participant satisfaction with AOFGs was high: 98% reported their experience was excellent, very good, or good and 95% would be somewhat or very likely to sign up for another AOFG. This example is used to illustrate key methodological decision-points, acceptability of the method to participants, and lessons learned. The goal of this paper is to encourage other researchers, particularly health researchers, to consider using AOFGs and to engage with the method's strengths and limitations in order to develop new opportunities for online technologies to enrich the field of qualitative health research.

Figure 1.. Asynchronous online focus group screening and enrollment of transgender and gender diverse young adults (August-October 2019)

Note: All 68 participants who created a focus group platform log-in were invited to participate in a feedback survey following the final day of focus groups; 43 completed (63%).

Figure 2.

Distribution of AOFG participants by U.S. state (n=66 transgender and gender diverse young adult participants in 25 states)

Figure 3.

Example image from Social Identity Mapping Activity in asynchronous online focus groups with transgender and gender diverse young adults

Figure 4.

Example from Digital Image Board Activity in asynchronous online focus groups with transgender and gender diverse young adults

Figure 5.. Asynchronous online focus group (AOFG) engagement: Percent of participants responding by prompt

Note: Smaller AOFGs (4) = 5-7 participants; larger AOFGs (4) = 8-11 participants. Two prompts were posted per day over four days, one in the morning (AM) and one in the afternoon/evening (PM). There was one introductory/welcome prompt (“Intros”).