FUNCTION | Description of Function | Use During PRO Content Development |
---|---|---|
Text Based Session Transcripts | All transcripts, including moderator questions/probes, participant responses, and external observer comments, are available on-line and can be made searchable by thematic content. | Participants' responses were revisited to: - Explore reasons for content differences between the countries - Assure that PRO item wording and phraseology used natural language |
Qualitative Coding Function | The qualitative coding function allows moderators to create hierarchical coding categories with an unlimited number of sub-categories. Participant responses can then be thematically coded for later retrieval and summarization. The ability to add coding comments to the coded items for later reference. | Responses were coded into one or more coding categories, from which frequency counts identified common themes which could be further sub-grouped by focus group members' characteristics (such as country, gender, or disease characteristics). |
Fish-Bowl Function | The fish bowl or backroom function allows observers to make comments regarding participants' posts. These (color coded) comments are visible only to moderators and other external observers. | Moderators used this function to integrate the comments/queries from external IFG observers (e.g., members of the PRO development team, KOLs) during sessions to guide probing of participant responses during the sessions. |
Document Management Areas | File management areas are used to store the most recent versions of materials such as participant screeners, topic guide, and the qualitative coding schedule. | On-line documentation provided planners and research analysts with current versions of all relevant study documents for the purposes of updating, discussion, and later reference. |
Multilingual Implementation | The integrated language modules of FocusForumsâ„¢ allow moderators to conduct all IFG activities in the users' native language. | Moderators had access to transcripts and thematic frequency results in their native language. These resources were used to identify cross-cultural similarities and differences, as well as make content and wording recommendations during the design of the new questionnaires. |