Navigating program evaluation amid health crises: Evaluator's experiences on conducting virtual focus group...

Area of Science:

• Program Evaluation
• Social Sciences
• Information Technology

Background:

• Virtual Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) emerged as crucial tools for program evaluations, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a flexible alternative to traditional in-person methods.
• Platforms like Google Meet facilitate engagement with diverse stakeholders across geographical barriers, yet understanding their adoption by evaluators in South Africa remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore South African evaluators' perceptions and implementation of virtual FGDs, specifically using Google Meet.
• To identify challenges and successes associated with virtual FGDs in program evaluation contexts.

Main Methods:

• A reflective methodology was employed to analyze evaluators' experiences with virtual FGDs.
• Key aspects examined included participant engagement, technological proficiency, and data privacy concerns.

Main Results:

• Virtual FGDs enhance accessibility and flexibility in program evaluations.
• Challenges identified include participants' digital literacy, technological infrastructure limitations, and data privacy issues.

Conclusions:

• Mitigation strategies such as pre-session training, improved digital infrastructure, and robust data protection are necessary.
• Hybrid models combining virtual and in-person approaches can bridge the technological divide and enhance inclusivity.