Hagerman, S., Dickson, D., & Colbert, Z. (2021). The possibility of the virtual focus group: Communicating agency toward equitable participation beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. In ACSA Intersections Research Conference: Communities Proceedings (pp. 129–135).
Excerpt:
“Sadly, it is not uncommon for planners to enter into these engagements searching to abstract the public into data points that can be manipulated to confirm pre-existing outcomes. Furthermore, elaborate theatrics are undertaken to create visual artifacts that serve as ‘proof of participation’, where the focus is mistakenly placed on producing the artifacts themselves rather than understanding their meaning. As we reflect on how the virtual focus groups we lead interact with this literature and its frameworks for participation, one underlying question begs to be asked: were our sessions truly participatory? It is clear to us that while we had no ill-intent and were indeed genuinely curious to learn what focus group attendees thought about our research, we did not clearly predefine grounds for equitable participation in our sessions. How can a productive relationship be genuinely formed between researcher and participant if they are entering into the session with no prior understanding about the system being discussed? It is not reasonable to expect individuals to properly weigh in on the system unless they are considerably informed. Despite our encouragement to develop a tailored approach to accommodate the public being engaged, how can needs and barriers be accurately assessed if you have not met this public before? Presumption is dangerous.”
Drawing by Daniel Dickson