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Shifting Focus: Collecting Focus Group Data Online

Anissa M. Zagonel, Audrey E. H. King, Lauri M. Baker, Angela B. Lindsey, Sandra Anderson, Ricky W. Telg, and Ashley McLeod-Morin


Release Date: 3/17/2022

Reviewed At: 6/4/2025

DOI: 10.32473/edis-wc413-2022

Administration

Abstract

This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication presents what focus groups are, the differences between in-person and online focus groups, potential platforms for hosting online focus groups, advantages and disadvantages to online focus groups, and best practices for conducting your own online focus groups. Researchers and practitioners alike can use this document to guide their process of conducting online focus groups. This article only discusses conducting online focus groups through online videoconferencing software.

About this Publication

This publication is AEC752, one of a series of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date March 2022. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Anissa M. Zagonel, research coordinator, UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center); Audrey E. H. King, assistant director, Rural Renewal Initiative, Oklahoma State University; Lauri M. Baker, associate professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication; Angela B. Lindsey, assistant professor, community issues education, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences; Sandra Anderson, data management analyst II, MS, PIE Center; Ricky W. Telg, director, PIE Center, and professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication; and Ashley McLeod-Morin, associate director of strategic communication, Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

How to Cite

Zagonel, A., King, A., Baker, L. M., Lindsey, A. B., Anderson, S., Telg, R. W., & McLeod-Morin, A. (2022). Shifting Focus: Collecting Focus Group Data Online. EDIS, 2022(2). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-wc413-2022

Authors

Anissa Zagonel
Anissa Zagonel
staff
University of Florida

data management analyst II, M.S., UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gainesville, FL

Angela Lindsey
Angela Lindsey
Specialist
University of Florida

associate professor, community issues education, UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences

Lauri Baker
Lauri Baker
Specialist
University of Florida

professor, agricultural communication, UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Gainesville, FL 

Sandra Anderson
Sandra Anderson
staff
University of Florida

data management analyst II, M.S., UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources

Ricky Telg
Ricky Telg
Specialist
University of Florida

director, Center for Public Issues Education, and professor, UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication

Ashley McLeod-Morin
Ashley McLeod-Morin
Specialist
University of Florida

associate director of strategic communication, Ph.D., Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources

Publication #AEC752

Peer Reviewed
Academic