Advantages of asynchronous online focus groups and face-to-face focus groups as perceived by child, adolescent and adult participants: a survey study

Table 4 Advantages of FTFs according to child, adolescent and adult respondents (N = 101), in percentages

	Child N = 21	Adolescent N = 17	Adult N = 51	Total N = 101	p
It is easier to have a discussion with the whole group when there is personal contact with others	4.8	17.7	78.4	48.5	0.00*
I like to see who I am talking to	52.4	70.6	39.2	45.5	0.07
I am better at expressing myself orally	47.6	17.7	29.4	29.7	0.13
I prefer to express my opinions in personal contact with others	23.8	35.3	45.1	33.7	0.23
I find it easier to discuss personal issues in direct contact with others	14.3	5.9	9.8	9.9	0.76
An FTF costs less time than a OFG that lasts several days	0.0	11.8	15.7	9.9	0.16
Other advantages**	4.8	11.8	15.7	13.9	0.44

Numbers of respondents with a preference for participation in an FTF or with no preference for OFG or FTF are reported. Because the age of 12 of these respondents was unknown, the total number of respondents exceeds the sum of the three subgroups.
*Differences between the age groups are statistically significant (chi-square test, p < 0.05).
**The most important other advantage of FTFs mentioned by respondent was that FTFs provide more opportunities for clarification and nuance than OFGs (N = 4).

ISSN: 1756-0500