What are the limitations of employing online focus groups?
A. Easy access to conference sites can be set up.
B. E-mail interviews with people in different time zones will be extremely participatory.
C. Drop outs may affect the data quality.
D. The approach is confined to the people who are willing to participate.
E. External influences on participants can be found.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is D

The limitations of employing online focus groups include:
· (C) Drop outs may affect the data quality: In online focus groups, participants may leave the session early or not complete the process, which can reduce the quantity and quality of data collected.
· (D) The approach is confined to the people who are willing to participate: Online focus groups often rely on voluntary participation, which may not represent the entire target population. Only individuals with interest or time may participate, creating potential sampling bias.
· (E) External influences on participants can be found: Online environments can lead to distractions or influence from other people in the participants’ surroundings, affecting the authenticity of their responses.
· (A) Easy access to conference sites and (B) E-mail interviews being participatory are not limitations; they may actually be advantages of online focus groups, allowing flexibility and ease of access.
Information Booster 1. Dropouts in online focus groups can disrupt the flow of discussion and affect the integrity of data collection.
2. Voluntary participation limits the diversity of the sample, as only certain individuals might be willing or able to participate in online formats.
3. External influences: Since participants are not in a controlled environment, distractions at home or in other settings may affect the focus and depth of responses.
4. Online focus groups provide flexibility in location and time, but technical issues, participation levels, and engagement can still be limiting factors.