Conducting Caregiver Focus Groups on Autism in the Context of an International Research Collaboration: Logistical and Methodological Lessons Learned in South Africa

Autor/inn/en	Guler, Jessy; Stewart, Kearsley A.; de Vries, Petrus J.; Seris, Noleen; Shabalala, Nokuthula; Franz, Lauren
Titel	Conducting Caregiver Focus Groups on Autism in the Context of an International Research Collaboration: Logistical and Methodological Lessons Learned in South Africa
Quelle	In: Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 27 (2023) 3, S.751-761 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Guler, Jessy) ORCID (Franz, Lauren)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1362-3613
DOI	10.1177/13623613221117012
Schlagwörter	Autism Spectrum Disorders; Foreign Countries; Research Methodology; Recruitment; Responses; Resources; Barriers; Individual Characteristics; Interpersonal Relationship; Ethics; Low Income Groups; Diversity; Family Needs; Disproportionate Representation; Young Children; Qualitative Research; South Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Autism; Autismus; Ausland; Research method; Forschungsmethode; Recruiting; Rekrutierung; Betriebsmittel; Hilfsmittel; Personality characteristic; Personality traits; Persönlichkeitsmerkmal; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Ethik; Frühe Kindheit; Qualitative Forschung; Südafrika; Süd-Afrika; Republik Südafrika; Südafrikanische Republik
Abstract	Most autism research has been conducted in high-income countries, with participants typically from White, upper-middle-income families. Given the disparities experienced by autistic individuals living in underserved communities globally, there is a critical need for research to include individuals from culturally, linguistically, socioeconomically, and geographically diverse backgrounds to understand their unique needs. Qualitative research has the potential to describe the "lived experience" of families historically underrepresented in the autism literature. Here we describe the logistical and methodological challenges of conducting focus group discussions with 22 caregivers of young autistic children living in Cape Town, South Africa. Logistical challenges included (1) recruitment, (2) response rate, and (3) resource access. Methodological challenges included (1) participant background and experiences, (2) interpersonal dynamics, and (3) research ethics. We present recommendations based on lessons learned to reduce these challenges and improve rigorous qualitative research practices in similar low-resource contexts. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01