Using Focus Groups in Community-Based Participatory Research: Challenges and Resolutions

Abstract

A community-based participatory approach requires that community members be involved in all phases of the research process. We describe three focus group studies with American Indians in Kansas and Missouri, using a newly developed method of conducting and analyzing focus groups with community input (72 focus groups, 519 participants). We conducted two needs assessment studies focused on barriers to breast and colorectal cancer screening and one study focused on Internet use for gathering health information. Community members and researchers collaborated to develop guides for the focus group moderators. Community organizations and our community advisory board conducted recruitment, and we trained and employed community members as moderators, assistant moderators, and analysts. Our community partners also helped with dissemination of research findings to their constituents. The methodologic approach and data from these three studies will allow us to more appropriately address health disparities in the American Indian community, with full community support for our research.

Community-Based Participatory Research in Disaster Preparedness Among Linguistically Isolated Populations: A Public Health Perspective

“…These stepwise approaches were helpful in (1) ensuring better representative participation of the community, (2) filling the gap that exists between the researcher and the community members of interest, and (3) addressing relationship issues that we observed in our initial study phase. Other researchers have also highlighted the importance of gaining the trust of several key leaders in the community to facilitate the recruitment process (Makosky et al, 2010). We argue that gaining the trust of CBOs and selecting the right community researchers are equally important.…”

Taking Humor Seriously: Talking about Drinking in Native American Focus Groups

“…For the focus group interviews that we analyzed, this meant adeptness to include male and female speakers, a common feature of all the focus groups regardless of geographic locale; shifts within discussion segments where ideas flow quickly and concisely versus times when speakers take longer turns; and alternating speech styles, when the participants are familiar with the native language. A moderator comfortable with local speech practices (Daley et al 2010; Kratz 2010; Teufel-Shone and Williams 2010) will encourage humor to facilitate the elicitation of sensitive data. Format ties are innate to these speech repertoires.…”

“…The MOU stated that the identities of each participating tribe would be protected in all publications and presentations. For an outline of strategies on preparation and implementation of focus groups among Native Americans, see Daley and colleagues (2010) who describe three projects across two states, where 72 focus groups were conducted among “the local American Indian community.” …”

American Indian Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Smokeless Tobacco: A Comparison of Two Focus Group Studies

“…Data were analyzed through a combination of methods, including constant comparative method data analysis [9] triangulation [12], and a CBPR protocol previously developed by the research team [8, 10]. Initially, coding was used to systematically organize and review each transcript.…”