First Nations Innovation - Publications

Conference Papers and Proceedings
#12 (2009)

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Publication #12 2009, May - Integrating New Media into Communication Research: Multi-site Videoconferencing for Focus Groups with Remote First Nation Community Members

Reference: Gratton, M-F., O'Donnell, S. (2009). Integrating New Media into Communication Research: Multi-site Videoconferencing for Focus Groups with Remote First Nation Community Members. Presented at the Canadian Communication Association Annual Conference (CCA 2009), Carleton University, Ottawa, May.

Abstract: New media offer social science researchers more options for conducting research. Many researchers have been using text-based exchanges on the Internet as a data collection method. However some situations do not lend themselves to text-only exchange; a prime example is interviews with research participants from a cultural or community background that is outside the researchers’ daily frame of reference. In this situation, visual cues and face-to-face contact are essential for conveying information that will build trust and comfort levels between participants and the researcher. Conversely, it is not always possible for researchers to travel to conduct focus groups and interviews in person, especially when travel is prohibitively time-consuming and expensive. This reason – too expensive and time-consuming – is often given to explain the lack of qualitative research with participants living in remote First Nation communities. This paper presents an overview of a research method developed in collaboration with our research partner K-Net and KORI (Keewaytinook Okimakanak) in northwestern Ontario. The specific study investigated preferences for online health information for First Nations people living in remote communities. Working with K-Net, we developed a method to use multi-site videoconferencing for focus groups – live visual and audio exchange between the researcher in Ottawa and participants in multiple remote First Nation communities in northwestern Ontario. The paper presents some of the challenges of research with remote communities, an overview of the study, the methodology, the technology used, a profile of the research partner and research participants, the process for the focus groups, what went well and the advantages of using this method and some of the challenges we experienced. Our conclusion encourages other researchers to try this innovative method to include more remote First Nation community members in participatory research projects.