In fact, many research professionals are touting the ability to obtain perhaps more honest reactions to sensitive issues through on-line groups because the environment allows privacy to be maintained by the respondents. Though a private labeled site, it is powered and managed by an outside vendor who is committed to on-going product development. System support is available to troubleshoot if needed to ensure sessions are completed with minimal disruption. As with any qualitative study, ARC on the net oversees all aspects of the project including study design, respondent recruitment, facility scheduling, moderating, data tabulation, and analytical reporting. The methods used to conduct the study while similar to traditional groups has some distinctive features in the on-line environment.
Recruitment is one example.
It is generally handled on-line using email and intercept screens as opposed to calling potential respondents. ARC on the net 's moderators are trained on the use of the software, including how to best control on-line respondents to ensure the highest degree of quality. Count on ARC on the net to bring the critical element of qualitative interviewing experience to ensure research is as effective when conducted on-line as when it is done in a traditional setting. ARC on the net recommends that some topics are best handled in traditional focus groups due to the fact that the internet population does not yet reflect the general population. On-line groups may be a component but not the entire scope of such projects.