For a further discussion of real-time OFGs, see Fox, F., Morris, M. and Rumsey, N. (2007a). Doing synchronous online focus groups with young people: Methodological reflections. Qualitative Health Research, 17(4), 539–547.Google Scholar

To read more about the example study using real-time OFGs, see Fox, F., Rumsey, N. and Morris, M. (2007b). ‘Ur skin is the thing that everyone sees and you can’t change it!’: Exploring the appearance-related concerns of young people with psoriasis. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 10(3), 133–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

For an exploration and comparison of the different ways young people share support via real-time and non-real-time online groups, see Fox, F., Morris, M. and Rumsey, N. (2010). How do young people use disclosure in real-time and non-real-time online groups? Internet Journal of Web-Based Communities, 6(4), 337–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

For a discussion of the strengths and limitations of OFGs, see Gaiser, T. (2008). Online focus groups. In Fielding, N. G., Lee, R. M. and Blank, G. (eds.), The SAGE handbook of online research methods (pp. 290–306). London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

For a comparison of face-to-face and non-real-time OFGs and an exploration of differences in participants’ preferences, experiences and engagement with either approach, see Nicholas, D. B., Lach, L., King, G., Scott, M., Boydell, K., Sawatzky, B. J., Reisman, J., Schippel, E. and Young, N. L. (2010). Contrasting Internet and face-to-face focus groups for children with chronic health conditions: Outcomes and participant experiences. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 9(1), 105–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Adams, J., Rodham, K. and Gavin, J. (2005). Investigating the ‘self’ in deliberate self-harm. Qualitative Health Research, 15(10), 1293–1309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Adler, C. L. and Zarchin, Y. R. (2002). The ‘virtual focus group’: Using the Internet to reach pregnant women on home bed rest. Journal of Obstetric, Gynaecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 31(4), 418–427.Google Scholar

Bordia, P. (1997). Face-to-face versus computer-mediated communication: A synthesis of the experimental literature. Journal of Business Communication, 34(10), 99–120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Boshoff, K., Alant, E. and May, E. (2005). Occupational therapy managers’ perceptions of challenges faced in early intervention service delivery in South Australia. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 52(3), 232–242.Google Scholar

Bosio, A. C., Graffigna, G. and Lozza, E. (2008). Toward theory and technique for online focus groups. In Hasson, T. (ed.), Handbook of research on digital information technologies: Innovations, methods and ethical issues (pp. 193–213). Denmark: Emerald Group.Google Scholar

Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.Google Scholar

Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

Collins, S. and Britten, N. (2006). Conversation analysis. In Pope, C. and Mays, N. (eds.), Qualitative research in health care (3rd edn, pp. 43–52). Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar

Davis, R. N. (1999). Web-based administration of a personality based questionnaire: Comparison with traditional methods. Behavioural Research Methods, Instruments and Computers, 31, 572–577.Google Scholar

Ess, C. and the AoIR ethics working committee (2002). Ethical decision-making and Internet research: Recommendations from the AoIR ethics working committee. Retrieved from: www.aoir.org/reports/ethics.pdf.Google Scholar

Fawcett, J. and Buhle, E. L. (1995). Using the Internet for data collection: An innovative electronic strategy. Computers in Nursing, 13(6), 273–279.Google Scholar

Fox, F., Morris, M. and Rumsey, N. (2007a). Doing synchronous online focus groups with young people: Methodological reflections. Qualitative Health Research, 17(4), 539–547.Google Scholar

Fox, F., Rumsey, N. and Morris, M. (2007b). ‘Ur skin is the thing that everyone sees and you can’t change it!’: Exploring the appearance-related concerns of young people with psoriasis. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 10(3), 133–141.Google Scholar

Fox, F., Morris, M. and Rumsey, N. (2010). How do young people use disclosure in real-time and non-real-time online groups? International Journal of Web Based Communities, 6(4), 337–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Franklin, K. K. and Lowry, C. (2001). Computer-mediated focus group sessions: Naturalistic inquiry in a networked environment. Qualitative Research, 1(2), 169–184.Google Scholar

Gaiser, T. (1997). Conducting online focus groups: A methodological discussion. Social Science Computer Review, 15(2), 135–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Gaiser, T. (2008). Online focus groups. In Fielding, N. G., Lee, R. M. and Blank, G. (eds.), The SAGE handbook of online research methods (pp. 290–306). London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

Gibson, F. (2007). Conducting focus groups with children and young people: Strategies for success. Journal of Research in Nursing, 12(5), 473–483.Google Scholar

Glaser, B. and Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine Publishing Company.Google Scholar

Horn, S. (1998). Cyberville: Clicks, culture and the creation of an online town. New York: Warner Books.Google Scholar

Horrell, B., Stephens, C. and Breheny, M. (2015). Online research with informal caregivers: Opportunities and challenges. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 12(3), 258–271.Google Scholar

Hsieh, H. F. and Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277–1288.Google Scholar

Im, E. (2006). White cancer patients’ perception of gender and ethnic differences in pain experience. Cancer Nursing, 29(6), 441–452.Google Scholar

Internet World Stats (2014). Internet growth statistics. Retrieved from: www.Internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm.Google Scholar

de Jong, I., Reinders-Messelink, H. A., Janssen, W. G. M., Poelma, M. J., van Wijk, I. and van der Sluis, C. K. (2012). Activity and participation of children and adolescents with unilateral congenital below elbow deficiency: An online focus group study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 44(10), 885–892.Google Scholar

Joinson, A. N. (2001). Self-disclosure in computer-mediated communication: The role of self-awareness and visual anonymity. European Journal of Social Psychology, 31(2), 177–192.Google Scholar

Keisler, S. and Sproull, L. (1992). Group decision making and communication technology. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 52(1), 96–123.Google Scholar

Kennedy, C., Kools, S. and Krueger, R. (2001). Methodological considerations in children’s focus groups. Nursing Research, 50(3), 184–187.Google Scholar

Kenny, A. J. (2005). Interaction in cyberspace: An online focus group. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 49(4), 414–422.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Kitzinger, J. (1995). Qualitative research: Introducing focus groups. British Medical Journal, 311(7000), 299–302.Google Scholar

Krueger, R. A. (1988). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

Krueger, R. A. and Casey, M. A. (2000). Focus groups. A practical guide for applied research (3rd edn). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

Mann, C. and Stewart, F. (2000). Internet communication and qualitative research: A handbook for researching online. London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

Moloney, M. F., Dietrich, A. S., Strickland, O. and Myerburg, S. (2003). Using Internet discussion boards as virtual focus groups. Advances in Nursing Science, 26(4), 274–286.Google Scholar

Montoya-Weiss, M. M., Massey, A. P. and Clapper, D. L. (1999). On-line focus groups: Conceptual issues and a research tool. European Journal of Marketing, 32(7/8), 713–723.Google Scholar

Morgan, M., Gibbs, S., Maxwell, K. and Britten, N. (2002). Hearing children’s voices: Methodological issues in conducting focus groups with children. Qualitative Research, 2(1), 5–20.Google Scholar

Murray, P. J. (1997). Using virtual focus groups in qualitative research. Qualitative Health Research, 7(4), 542–545.Google Scholar

Nicholas, D. B. (2003). Participant perceptions of online groupwork with fathers of children with spina bifida. In Sullivan, N., Lang, N. C., Goodman, D. and Mitchell, L. (eds.), Social work with groups: Social justice through personal, community and societal change (pp. 227–240). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.Google Scholar

Nicholas, D. B., Lach, L., King, G., Scott, M., Boydell, K., Sawatzky, B. J., Reisman, J., Schippel, E. and Young, N. L. (2010). Contrasting Internet and face-to-face focus groups for children with chronic health conditions: Outcomes and participant experiences. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 9(1), 105–121.Google Scholar

O’Connor, H. and Madge, C. (2003). Focus groups in cyberspace: Using the Internet for qualitative research. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 6(2), 133–143.Google Scholar

Pastore, M. (2002). Internet key to communication among youth. Clickz network: Solutions for marketers.Google Scholar

Peacock, S., Robertson, A., Williams, S. and Clausen, M. (2009). The role of learning technologists in supporting e-research. ALT-J, 17(2), 115–129.Google Scholar

Pittenger, D. J. (2003). Internet research: An opportunity to revisit classical ethical problems in behavioural research. Ethics & Behaviour, 13(1), 45–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Reid, D. J. and Reid, F. J. M. (2005). Online focus groups: An in-depth comparison of computer mediated and conventional focus group discussions. International Journal of Market Research, 47(2), 131–162.Google Scholar

Reips, U. D. (2000). The web experiment method: Advantages, disadvantages and solutions. In Birmbaun, M. H. (ed.), Psychological experiments on the Internet (pp. 89–117). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.Google Scholar

Rezabek, R. (2000). Online focus groups: Electronic discussions for research. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 1(1). Retrieved from: www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/1-00/1-00rezabek-e.htmGoogle Scholar

Robson, K. (1999). Employment experiences of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease sufferers (Unpublished PhD thesis). Cardiff, UK: University of Wales.Google Scholar

Sproull, L. and Kiesler, S. (1986). Reducing social context cues: Electronic mail in organizational communication. Management Science, 32(11), 1492–1512.Google Scholar

Stewart, F., Eckerman, E. and Zhou, K. (1998). Using the Internet in qualitative public health research: A comparison of Chinese and Australian young women’s perceptions of tobacco use. Internet Journal of Health Promotion, 12 [Online]. Retrieved from: www.rhpeo.org/ijhp-articles/1998/12/Google Scholar

Stewart, K. and Williams, M. (2005). Researching online populations: The use of online focus groups for social research. Qualitative Research, 5, 395–416.Google Scholar

Suzuki, L. K. and Calzo, J. P. (2004). The search for peer advice in cyberspace: An examination of online teen bulletin boards about health and sexuality. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 25(6), 685–698.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Sweet, C. (2001). Designing and conducting virtual focus group. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 4(3), 130–135.Google Scholar

Tanis, M. (2007). Online social support groups. In Joinson, A., McKenna, K., Postmes, T. and Reips, U. (eds.), The Oxford handbook of Internet psychology (pp. 139–153). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar

Tates, K., Zwaanswijk, M., Otten, R., van Dulmen, S., Hoogerbrugge, P. M., Kamps, W. A. and Bensing, J. M. (2009). Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations: Examples from paediatric oncology. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 9(15), 9–15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Thomas, C., Wootten, A. and Robinson, P. (2013). The experiences of gay and bisexual men diagnosed with prostate cancer: Results from an online focus group. European Journal of Cancer Care, 22(4), 522–529.Google Scholar

Tesch, R. (1991). Software for qualitative researchers: Analysis needs and programme capabilities. In Fielding, N. G. and Lee, R. M. (eds.), Using computers in qualitative research (pp. 15–22). London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar

Tidwell, L. C. and Walther, J. B. (2002). Computer-mediated communication effects on disclosure, impressions, and interpersonal evaluations: Getting to know one another a bit a time. Human Communication Research, 28(3), 317–348.Google Scholar

Turney, L. and Pocknee, C. (2005). Virtual focus groups: New frontiers in research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 4(2), 32–43.Google Scholar

Tuttas, C. A. (2014). Lessons learned using web conference technology for online focus group interviews. Qualitative Health Research, 25(1), 122–133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

Ward, K. J. (1999). The cyber-ethnographic (re)construction of two feminist online communities. Sociological Research Online, 4(1). Retrieved from: www.socresonline.org.uk/4/1/contents.htmlGoogle Scholar

Wilkinson, S. (1998). Focus group methodology: A review. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 1(3), 181–203.Google Scholar

Williams, M. (2003). Virtually criminal: Deviance and harm within online environments (Unpublished PhD thesis). Cardiff, UK: University of Wales.Google Scholar

Williams, S. (2009). Understanding anorexia nervosa: An online phenomenological approach (Unpublished PhD thesis). Edinburgh, UK: Queen Margaret University.Google Scholar

Williams, S., Clausen, M. G., Robertson, A., Peacock, S. and McPherson, K. (2012). Methodological reflections on the use of asynchronous online focus groups in health research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 11(4), 368–383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Ybarra, M. L., DuBois, L. Z., Parsons, J. T., Prescott, T. L. and Mustanski, B. (2014). Online focus groups as an HIV prevention programme for gay, bisexual and queer adolescent males. AIDS Education and Prevention, 26(6), 554–564.Google Scholar