Communication technologies for focus groups with remote communities: a case study of research with First Nations in Canada

Abstract

Communication technologies offer qualitative researchers more options for conducting research with remote communities. 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 is often given to explain the lack of qualitative research with participants living in remote First Nations (Aboriginal) communities in Canada. This manuscript presents a case study 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 Nations communities. Our conclusion encourages other researchers to try this innovative method to include more remote First Nations community members in participatory research projects.

Keywords

Aboriginal broadband networks Canada communication technologies cultural First Nations focus groups participatory research remote communities videoconference

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bennett M. ( 2004) A review of the literature on the benefits and drawbacks of participatory action research. First Peoples Child & Family Review 1(1): 19-32.

Carpenter P. ( 2010) The Kuhkenah Network (K-Net). In: White J, Peters J, Beavon D and Dinsdale P (eds) Aboriginal Policy Research Volume 6: Learning, Technology and Traditions. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing, 119-127.

Couper MP ( 2000) Web surveys: a review of issues and approaches. Public Opinion Quarterly 64(4): 464-494.

Fiser A. , Clement A. and Walmark B. ( 2006) The K-Net Development Process: A Model for First Nations Broadband Community Networks. Canadian Research Alliance for Community Innovations and Networking (CRACIN), Toronto.

Health Canada (2004) Backgrounder on Telehealth activities in First Nations and Inuit communities. Aboriginal Crossing Boundaries Online Discussion Document. Prepared by e-Health Solutions Unit, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada, August.

Industry Canada (2006) National Satellite Initiative Program Description. Available at: http://broadband.gc.ca.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/pub/media/nsi_prog_des.html (accessed 16 April 2008) .

James N. and Busher H. ( 2006) Credibility, authenticity and voice: dilemmas in online interviewing. Qualitative Research 6(3): 404-420.

Jones S. ( 1999.) Studying the net: intricacies and issues. In: Jones S (ed.) Doing Internet Research . London: Sage, 1-27.

Lewis J. ( 2006) Making order out of a contested disorder: the utilization of online support groups in social science research. Qualitative Researcher 3: 4-7.

10.

Mann C. and Stewart F. ( 2000) Internet Communication and Qualitative Research. London: Sage.

11.

McKelvey F. and O’Donnell S. ( 2009) Out from the edges: multi-site videoconferencing as a public sphere in First Nations. Journal of Community Informatics 5(2). Available at: http://ci-journal.net/index.php/ciej/article/view/479/455

12.

National Aboriginal Health Organization (2008 ) An Overview Of Traditional Knowledge and Medicine and Public Health in Canada. Ottawa: NAHO. Nishnawbe Aski Nation (2007) NAN First Nations. Available at: http://www.nan.on.ca/article/nan-first-nations-164.asp (accessed 13 April 2008). Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (2008) Sioux Lookout District Chiefs. Available at: http://nnec.on.ca/nnec/?q=node/11 (accessed 13 April 2008).

13.

O’Donnell S. , Beaton B. and McKelvey F. ( 2008) Videoconferencing and sustainable development in remote and rural First Nations. Paper presented at the Community Informatics Research Network (CIRN 08), Prato , Italy.

14.

O’Donnell S. , Perley S. , Simms D. and Hancock BR ( 2009a) Video communication roadblocks facing remote, indigenous communities. IEEE Technology and Society Magazine 28(2): 16-22.

15.

O’Donnell S. , Perley S. , Walmark B. , Burton K. , Beaton B. and Sark A. ( 2009b) Community based broadband organizations and video communications for remote and rural First Nations in Canada. In: Stillman L , Johanson G and French R (eds) Communities in Action. Newcastleupon-Tyne: Cambridge Scholars, 107-119.

16.

O’Donnell S. , Walmark B. and Hancock BR ( 2010) Videoconferencing in remote and rural First Nations. In: White J, Peters J, Beavon D and Dinsdale P (eds) Aboriginal Policy Research Volume 6: Learning, Technology and Traditions. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing, 128-139.

17.

Perley S. and O’Donnell S. ( 2005) Engaging New Brunswick First Nations in research. Paper presented at the Community Informatics Research Network 2005 Conference, Cape Town, South Africa. Perley S. and O’Donnell S. ( 2006) Broadband video communication research in First Nations communities. Canadian Communication Association Annual Conference 2006, York University, Toronto, June. Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996 (8 February 2006 - last update]) Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Volume 3 - Gathering Strength - Chapter 6 - Arts and Heritage. Ottawa: Government of Canada.

18.

Rettie R. ( 2003) Connectedness, awareness and social presence. In: The 6th Annual International Workshop on Presence, 6-8 October 2003, Aalborg, Denmark. Available at: http://www.presence-research.org/papers/Rettie.pdf

19.

Roussel N. and Gueddana S. ( 2007) Beyond ‘beyond being there‘: towards multiscale communication systems. In: ACM Multimedia (MM’07): Proceedings of the 15th international conference on Multimedia, 24-29 September 2007. Augsburg, Germany.

20.

Schnarch BS ( 2004) Ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP) or Self-determination applied to research. Journal of Aboriginal Health 1(1): 80-95.

21.

Scott S. ( 2004) Researching shyness: a contradiction in terms. Qualitative Research 4: 91-105.

22.

Short J. , Williams E. and Christie B. ( 1976) The Social Psychology of Telecommunications. Toronto: John Wiley & Sons.

23.

Silverman BE , Goodine WM , Ladouceur MG and Quinn J. ( 2001) Learning needs of nurses working in Canada’s First Nations communities and hospitals. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 32(1): 38-45.

24.

Smith LT ( 1999) Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples . New York: Zed Books.

25.

Task Force on Northern Research (2000) From crisis to opportunity: rebuilding Canada’s role in northern research. Final Report to SSHRC and NSERC. Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

26.

Whiteduck T. ( 2010) First Nations SchoolNet and the migration of broadband and community-based ICT applications. In: White J, Peters J, Beavon D and Dinsdale P (eds) Aboriginal Policy Research Volume 6: Learning, Technology and Traditions. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing, 105-119.