Focus Group Method Research Articles

Development of Training Program to Improve Specific Fitness and Wushu Taolu Skills for Youth Athletes

Background and Aims: Nowadays, whether it is an amateur training team or a professional training team, they only use special training methods and some conventional training methods to strengthen athletes' Specific fitness and quality, focusing more on muscle strength exercises. Such training methods are not systematic or comprehensive. Traditional Specific fitness training may have adverse effects on athletes' performance in some cases. Overemphasis on specific fitness training and neglect of comprehensive training can lead to imbalances and increase the risk of injury. The purpose of this study was to develop of training program to improve specific fitness and Wushu Taolu skills for youth athletes. Methodology: This study was a mixed method; it combines quantitative and qualitative research. The sample of this study consisted of 8 experts and 30 male youth Wushu athletes aged between 9-12 years old. They were divided into 2 groups by systematic method. Training program design begins with an analysis of factors affecting specific fitness and Wushu Taolu skills. After that, the information was synthesized and consulted with experts through a focus group method. The content validity value (IOC) was 0.87. The experiment duration was 8 weeks. Wushu Taolu's skills and specific fitness were tested by pre-test and post-test and compared using the independent t-test. As for Wushu Taolu skills were tested by pre-test, mid-test, and post-test using the comparison analysis one-way ANOVA repeated measures, then pairwise with Bonferroni post hoc (*p<.05 Results found that:1) Before the experimental the specific fitness result between groups of standing long jump test results was a significant difference (*p<.05). Post experimental the specific fitness result between groups of shuttles run test results was not a significant difference. The test result between the experimental group and control group of Wushu Taolu skills, before the experiment found that all Wushu Taolu skills pairwise were not significantly different. Post experimental found that all Wushu Taolu skills pairwise were significantly different (*p<, 05). The comparison of the Wushu Taolu skills test within the experimental group found that all Wushu Taolu skills in the experimental group had a significant difference (*p <.05). Conclusion: The training program can improve specific fitness and Wushu Taolu skills for youth athletes.

Development of An Integrated Model on Sports and Education to Enhance the Competencies of Sports Schools Students in Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China

Background and Aims: The sports school system has long been the main channel for developing sports-related talent in China. However, because of the imbalance between academic learning and sports training, only a small proportion of students from these sports schools show enough competency in their careers. This research aims to build an integrated model of sports and education to enhance the competencies of sports school students. Methodology: (1) For data collection, this research mainly used the questionnaire method. A stratified random sampling method was used to pick 40 sports schools in different regions out of a total of 149 sports schools in Guangdong, China. For each school, related parties such as students, teachers, and school administrators were randomly chosen to answer the questionnaire from different perspectives. (2) For data analysis and model construction, descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation, median, and interquartile range were used to analyze the data. (3) To refine the model, the Delphi method was used to consult experts in education and sports. After three rounds of Delphi, the final model was constructed, which both considered the information from questionnaires and the advice from experts. The final model was confirmed through the Focus Group method to further show its practicality. Results: The research identified significant factors impacting student-athlete performance, including specialized academic planning, after-school tutoring, and the integration of sports and education administration. The study revealed that a tailored approach to academic and athletic training, along with coordinated management between sports and education bureaus is essential for enhancing student competencies. Conclusion: The developed integrated model offers a comprehensive framework for sports schools to improve student outcomes in both academic and sports fields. By prioritizing both academic and athletic development, the model supports the sustainable growth of sports schools and the preparation of well-rounded student-athletes for future challenges.

Mediation im Lehramtsstudium Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Reflexion durch Fokusinterviews und Tagebücher

In today’s pluricultural and plurilingual society, mediation is considered a useful or necessary competence that can be developed in foreign language teaching at all levels. This article focuses on the implementation o mediation courses in the teacher training programme German as a Foreign Language at the Faculty of Education of Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic), which are evaluated and developed on the basis of research. The didactic concept of two mediation courses and the research design are presented below, and the results from the current research phases, based on the method of focus groups and reflection diaries, are summarised and explained.

Enhancing teachers’ design thinking mindsets through reflective practice: Cultivating innovation in an upskilling STEAM training program

Promoting innovation in education through enhanced design thinking (DT) mindsets among teachers is a central goal. This study examines the use of reflective practice within an upskilling STEAM training program to achieve this enhancement. The upskilling training initiative examined in this research encompasses a ten-week instructional session characterized by a hybrid learning methodology under the guidance of an instructor. An explanatory mixed method design is employed, starting with a quantitative method (teachers’ survey) followed by a qualitative method (focus group discussion). The participants were in-service K-12 teachers (n = 55) from charity schools across Northern Emirates in the United Arab Emirates. The main results demonstrate that reflective practice significantly contributed to developing teachers’ DT mindsets, fostering empathy, creative confidence, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. Teachers reported increased confidence in guiding students through open-ended problem-solving tasks and adapting their instructional strategies to address feedback from students and peers. This research highlights reflective practice’s transformative potential in elevating teachers’ DT mindsets. For example, through iterative reflection, teachers were better equipped to design STEAM challenges that connect with real-world problems, allowing students to apply creativity and critical thinking. It demonstrates the link between the upskilling STEAM program and the cultivation of innovative teaching methods, equipping educators to nurture creativity and problem-solving skills in students, thereby enriching education.

Community engagement approaches to improve health: a cross-case study analysis of barriers and facilitators in UK practice

BackgroundInterventions that engage communities have been shown to improve health and wellbeing in disadvantaged groups internationally, but there is little evidence on current community-led practice, particularly in relation to the process of community engagement. This paper presents a qualitative cross-case analysis of barriers & facilitators in six UK community engagement projects, using different models of community engagement.MethodsThe primary sampling criteria was the type of approach to community engagement, using a conceptual framework with four main groups: Strengthening communities; Volunteer and peer roles; Collaborations and partnerships; Connecting to community resources. Qualitative interview-based methods (semi-structured interviews and focus groups) explored community and professional perspectives in depth. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, building within-case studies before comparing findings and using an iterative process to build explanations in a cross-case analysis.ResultsFifty-five people (28 community stakeholders and 27 professional stakeholders) from six selected case study projects took part in the research. Key themes related to successful community engagement were: trust within the community and between community members and service providers; respect for community members’ expertise; allowing sufficient time for relationships to establish and for outcomes to be seen; commitment of key people; and flexibility.ConclusionsThis qualitative case study research found that in successful community engagement projects, community expertise is respected and valued, allowing community members to be fully involved and take ownership of the projects. Sufficient time should be allowed for this process. Flexibility and adaptation of project materials, protocols and role descriptions is important in overcoming barriers to community engagement.

Harmonising artistic designs with private and collective notions of home: a focus group study of older persons' experiences of art in residential care specialised in dementia care.

Integrating art in residential care settings aims to create meaningful experiences and enhance the facility's aesthetic as a home. However, the literature shows a gap, as the voices of older persons are largely absent. This study aimed to explore the views of older persons in residential care facilities specialised in dementia care regarding art and expressions of home. Older persons with cognitive impairments are frequently depicted as lacking meaningful contributions, limiting their opportunities to voice their opinions and influence their environment. This study used a qualitative explorative design with focus group method, allowing older persons with dementia to discuss their views of art in relation to expressions of home. Eleven older persons participated in four focus groups. This method encourages interaction between participants, shedding light on a collective understanding. The study found that the residential care facility was perceived as a home by the participants, based on their descriptions of how both private and shared collective spaces in the facility fostered a dynamic sense of belonging. Art owned by the older persons often held personal value and they valued art for its intrinsic qualities, such as beauty, meaning, and expression. The perception of art differed between the private and collective spaces, and the discussions centered on aligning the artistic design with the participants' notions of home to foster a socially engaging environment. Clearly defined private and collective spaces seem to be crucial for fostering self-determination and a sense of belonging for older persons living in residential care facilities specialised in dementia care. A balance between private and collective spaces boosted social engagement, with art playing a key role in reflecting older persons' previous lives, shared interests and experiences, with co-creation of artistic design ensuring a dynamic environment.

Developing an online reproductive health module on sexually transmitted infections for Indonesian adolescents: a qualitative mixed methods study

BACKGROUND A notable rise in sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases among youth correlates with a lack of reproductive health awareness, affecting nearly 80% of Indonesian adolescents. Additionally, sociocultural taboo acts as a challenge to reproductive health implementation in Indonesia. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an online reproductive health module focused on STIs for Indonesian adolescents. METHODS This research was a mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative study using univariate analysis (survey and questionnaire) and qualitative study using the Delphi method (open discussion and focus group discussion). The study was conducted between March 2 and July 28, 2022. We began by conceptualizing a literature-based module, an online survey, and virtual discussions involving students, teachers, and parents. Then, we consulted with clinical psychologists and dermatovenereologists. Additionally, students completed an assessment to establish a baseline of their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) regarding reproductive health and STIs. RESULTS Of 327 high school students across Jakarta, analysis of the 129 completed KAB surveys showed that only 56.6% and 65.1% attained acceptable scores (>65) for knowledge and behavior, respectively, with 24.8% being at risk for STIs. Key recommendations included incorporating multimedia elements, ensuring clarity and simplicity in language, adopting non-judgmental tone, providing comprehensive explanations of STIs and their long-term impact, and supporting learning with face-to-face sessions and ongoing access to concise, cost-effective educational resources. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents need a comprehensive, interactive, instructive, accessible, non-discriminatory reproductive module that strengthens the self-concept that upholds Indonesian values and norms.

Optimizing Telehealth Delivery for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Service Experiences

ABSTRACT Introduction The aim of this study was to identify strategies to support the delivery of mental health services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities via telehealth. This occurred within START (Systemic Therapeutic Assessment, Resources and Treatment), an evidence-based mental health crisis prevention and intervention model. Methods Focus groups and interviews were held with 82 people from START: 47 providers, 16 service recipients, and 19 family caregivers. Analytical memos were used to identify the main ideas. Selective coding ensured interpretation was grounded in participants’ perspectives. Results Telehealth was acceptable and accessible when everyone worked together to prepare for sessions; START providers used specific strategies to engage people over telehealth; and when there was ongoing assessment and monitoring modified for the telehealth environment. Conclusion The Prepare, Engage, and Assess (PEA) Framework may be used to provide mental health services via telehealth for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

A qualitative exploration of midwives' and ambulance clinicians' experiences working together

Background/Aims Effective teamwork represents a significant component of high-quality maternity care. Midwives and ambulance clinicians are sometimes required to work together in the pre-hospital setting, but these interactions are not well documented or understood. This study aimed to explore the views and experiences of clinicians, to describe the barriers to and facilitators of effective teamwork in this context. Methods Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 London-based clinicians who had experience of providing emergency maternity care in the pre-hospital setting as part of a multidisciplinary team. Data were analysed thematically, informed by principles of grounded theory. Results Three overarching themes emerged: significance of the patient environment, reaching a shared mental model and interpersonal dynamics. Challenges included conflicting priorities and lack of understanding each other's roles and skillsets. Civility and multidisciplinary training were perceived as conducive to effective teamwork. Conclusions The findings provide insight to the factors that were perceived to impact teamwork in a pre-hospital maternity context. Actions to improve patient safety include increased partnership working between acute and ambulance trusts, including the provision of multidisciplinary training. Implications for practice Midwives and ambulance clinicians report a shared goal of a safe and positive experience for the families in their care. When working towards these outcomes, teams require leadership that acknowledges the various professional remits present.

Prevalence and peculiarities of perception of youth subcultures among students

The article is devoted to the study of modern youth subcultures. Based on an empirical sociological study conducted among students of Orenburg State University, the prevalence and peculiarities of perception of youth subcultures in the student environment of a provincial university were studied. The object of the study is the student youth of a provincial university. The subject of the study is the youth subculture in the assessments of students and the degree of their involvement in modern subcultural groups. The relevance of studying the involvement of youth in subcultural practices is determined by the attitude towards youth not only as an object on the part of the state and social institutions, but also as an active subject of social reality. In modern society, there is a tendency towards an increase in the number of subcultures, the intertwining of subcultural practices, the virtualization of interaction and the blurring of the boundaries of membership of their participants. As a result, cultural classification becomes more difficult and requires new approaches to understanding, including on the basis of empirical material. At the preparatory stage, the pilot survey method was used, which was attended by 150 people. The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire in Google Forms using the Internet. In order to obtain more detailed judgments reflecting the specifics of student perception of modern subcultural trends and practices, a qualitative stage of the survey was conducted using the focus group method. The survey results showed low involvement of students in subcultural groups, the lack of a pronounced demonstration of their belonging to a subculture in a formal educational organization. The attitude towards participants in subcultures is neutral, determined by the degree of violation of personal boundaries and ideas promoted by the subculture (condemnation of calls for violence, discrimination). The participants of the subcultural groups identified during the survey do not note negative attitudes towards themselves in the student community. According to the respondents, the main reason for inclusion in subcultural groups is related to the need for communication among their participants, which cannot be satisfied in the daily practice of interaction, while the risk of limiting the communication to only a subcultural group is highlighted. In general, the youth subculture among students is perceived as an integral part of modern society, performing necessary social functions.

How do GPs' new ways of working affect community nurses? A qualitative study.

Background A growing literature examines the way two changes in primary care - the shift towards remote working, and the diversification of practice teams to incorporate, for instance, physician associates and paramedics - affect patient care within the practice. However, little is known about these changes' effects on community nurses. Aim To explore community nurses' experiences of delivering palliative care in the context of GPs' new ways of working. Design and Setting Qualitative study using focus groups. Method Focus groups were conducted on Zoom with community nurses working in the UK. Data were analysed thematically, using constant comparison. Results Community nurses described extending their roles in palliative care. Alongside pride and satisfaction about this, participants raised several concerns and dissatisfactions, some of which they associated with changes in GPs' ways of working. Two dissatisfactions concerned remote working. First, remote communication with colleagues was seen as creating obstacles to nurses' everyday collaboration with GPs, damaging important working relationships. Second, nurses increased their workload by taking the lead in person-centred care where they saw remote provision by GPs as unsatisfactory. Where workforce diversification led to delegating home visits to paramedics or nurse practitioners, community nurses described feeling a lack of the "GP back-up" that many identified as essential for community palliative care. Conclusion When considering and evaluating interventions that change the way GPs work, policy-makers and commissioners should look not only at consequences affecting primary care teams, but also at effects across the complex ecosystem within which these teams operate.

Stakeholder perspectives on facilitators and barriers to implementing a zero-dollar copay program for chronic conditions study

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) remains a pressing public health concern. Despite advancements in antidiabetic medications, suboptimal medication adherence persists among many individuals with T2D, often due to the high cost of medications. To combat this issue, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Blue Cross) introduced the $0 Drug Copay (ZDC) program, providing $0 copays for select drugs. This study sought to explore barriers and facilitators to the successful implementation of Blue Cross’s ZDC program (updated version).MethodsFocus group discussions and interviews were conducted with health plan leadership, health coaches and providers who participate in the health plan organization’s healthcare quality improvement program. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were conducted between October 2022 and July 2023. Discussion guides were developed collaboratively and tailored to each participant group. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using NVivo® qualitative analysis software. A descriptive, qualitative analysis was conducted, resulting in the identification of seven codes and subsequent candidate themes.ResultsIn total, 15 participants were interviewed: 6 were Blue Cross administrators, 5 were health coaches and 4 were Quality Blue providers. Overall, participants had positive feedback on the ZDC program and perceived that it has significant benefits for patients and the health system but could be improved, and four themes related to implementation barriers and facilitators, effectiveness and potential areas of improvement were identified: (1) the ZDC program reduces friction for patients, prescribers and the health system; (2) the program is aligned with the values of health systems, insurers and providers, facilitating implementation success; (3) expanding coverage (drug classes and conditions) and education (for providers and patients) could maximize program benefits; and (4) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) did not negatively impact program administration because the $0 copay was programmed at the benefit level.ConclusionsThe ZDC program aligns goals and can benefit patients, providers and patients. The program can have the largest potential if it is expanded to include new medications and new conditions, and if there is more education for patients and providers. Regardless of challenges, reduced-copay programs have the potential to improve medication adherence, improve HbA1C control and improve overall health outcomes.Trial Registration This study was approved by the Tulane University Institutional Review Board, IRB #2020-1986.

Check‐Ups Before School: Accessible, Collaborative and Integrated Health and Education in Early Childhood for Families Experiencing Economic Disadvantage in Australia

Children in families experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage are more likely to start school with unaddressed developmental needs than children who do not experience disadvantage. Participation in well‐child checks and developmental screening programs is low in Australian disadvantaged communities. This research explores an integrated approach to addressing this challenge by embedding place‐based child and family nurses in early childhood education settings and community centres to facilitate easy access for families to health services. We conducted a mixed methods study, employing focus group, survey, interview and data linkage methods to evaluate a trial of the ‘Check‐Ups Before School’ (CUBS) program. Our participants included health and community service providers, early childhood educators, primary school teachers, parents and carers. We found that a child health check, conducted in a safe and familiar environment for the child and their family, can act as a catalyst for wrap‐around care and service integration. Such an approach should be place‐based, listen to families and provide them with tools and information for agency, where relationships are fundamental to good care and supported by information flow through the family’s ecological environment, particularly in the transition to school. These findings can inform agencies in the design and implementation of integrated health and school readiness initiatives for children in the early years. Also discussed in the paper are policy implications for realising the potential of early childhood services as ‘community hubs’ and sites for integrated health and education, as well as implications for the role of educators as ‘brokers’ in relationships between parents/family members and health professionals.

“INCORPORATE INTO MY DAILY LIFE”: RESPONSES TO MITOFIT INTERVENTION VIDEOS ON MITOCHONDRIAL FITNESS

Abstract Mitochondrial fitness is a term that reflects the ability of mitochondria to adapt/maintain optimal performance. As a key predictor of age-related decline, mitochondrial fitness is a target for interventions in healthy aging. MitoFit is a novel instructional communication intervention designed for improving physical activity in persons aged 50 and over. We aimed to determine participants’ responses to the MitoFit educational videos and clarify factors that contributed to reactions. Methods Focus groups with community-dwelling adults (aged 50+) viewed six literacy-friendly MitoFit videos two at a time followed by a semi-structured group interviews to elicit verbal feedback. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data were independently coded by three researchers, followed by a consensus process to identify themes, codes and subcodes. Results 101 adults (mean age: 67.8 years (8.9); 75.0% female) participated in 15 focus groups at six sites. A conceptual model emerged, centered around the concept of cognitive restructuring (mental adjustments to prior or unhelpful beliefs) related to understanding about exercise. Contributing themes included: a) initial reactions (codes: impactful, motivating, fascinating), b) biological content (codes: this is biology, battery analogy, energetics), and c) personal integration (codes: prompts reflection, unaware, leads to more questions). The theme of key take-aways included codes: a) have to do it (subcodes: consistency, find what works, find what I like, making a plan), b) hope (subcode: not too late), c) reversible, and d) sense of agency (subcode: doing it for me). Conclusion MitoFit video content provoked positively strong reactions that may contribute to self-efficacious lifestyle change.

Exploring staff experiences of formulation processes in a secure children’s home

PurposeThis study aims to explore experiences of the Framework for Integrated Care's team formulation process within a secure children’s home in northern England, from the perspective of care and education staff.Design/methodology/approachFour focus groups were facilitated, with a total of 25 participants. The focus groups discussed a number of key areas, including: staff experiences of team formulation; the usefulness of the process; the wider impact of the process; and ways the formulation process could be developed. The data set was analysed using Rapid Qualitative Analysis (Hamilton, 2013).FindingsSix overarching themes and a number of accompanying subthemes were developed. The six themes were: (i) new ways of understanding; (ii) enabling communication; (iii) young person should be at the centre; (iv) practical considerations; (v) developing accessibility: a systemic lens; and (vi) developing the focus.Practical implicationsTen implications for practice within secure children’s homes and wider establishments are outlined. These relate to various aspects of the formulation process, including the preparatory work, meeting attendance, the focus of the formulation and dissemination.Originality/valueResearch within the context of secure children’s homes is expanding and has included the direct involvement of young people. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study utilising a qualitative, focus group method to consider the experiences of team formulation from the perspective of the wider care and education staff team in a secure children’s home.

한국 간호대학생의 일본병원 임상실습 경험에 관한 포커스그룹 연구

Objectives This study attempted to explore the experiences of Korean nursing students in clinical practice in Japanese hospitals. Methods Focus group interviews, field notes, and practicum diaries of 14 Korean nursing students who participated in clinical practice in a Japanese hospital after the end of the first semester of their third year were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Data collection took place during the month of July 2018. Results Four themes and nine sub-themes were extracted from the study participants' clinical practice experiences in Japanese hospitals. The sub-themes of ‘strengthening nursing competence’ were various basic nursing practice opportunities, specialised geriatric nursing experiences and establishing an ideal nursing image, while the sub-themes of ‘growth through meaningful relationships’ were improving self-esteem through interaction with nurses and bonding with patients across language barriers. The sub-themes of ‘increased interest in global nursing’ were improved understanding of healthcare cultures in different countries, motivation to learn foreign languages and work abroad, and the sub-themes of ‘challenges of being a foreign trainee’ were limitations due to language and cultural differences and difficulties due to different practice settings. Conclusions The clinical practicum experience in Japanese hospitals was an opportunity for the participants to grow as competent nurses by experiencing the advanced nursing culture and diversity of clinical practice. This study provides basic data and implications for nursing practitioners, educators, and students on future clinical practicum in Japanese hospitals.

Analysis of a university-NGO research partnership with and for children and young people in Covid-19

To gain a deeper understanding of the ways institutions work in partnership in research in times of adversity, this paper analyses what happened when people from two very different organizations, a university and a children’s charity, worked together on the VOICES research project during Covid-19. VOICES looked at how nearly 2000 children and young people in North East England were experiencing the pandemic. It was ambitious in its range of research methods (drawings, writing, focus groups and comics). We set out to co-produce all aspects of the research across the two organizations, and to find ways to work in partnership with children and young people. Universities have not always been successful in researching with NGOs as equal partners. The cross-agency University-NGO team surmounted methodological difficulties in the unprecedented social upheaval of the pandemic to talk to almost 2000 children. This paper analyses team actions and practices that enabled effective partnership despite the uncertainties. Research questions considered: 1) What team actions helped the project to go well; 2) What were difficulties in how the research team worked together? Were they overcome and if so how? Data included meeting notes and research team interviews. Analysis found a number of elements that characterized the effective ways that the team worked together including: trust building, being listened to, transparency in decision-making and creating a space together. Difficulties included recruiting schools and youth organizations during Covid-19, research team staffing problems, and adapting research methods to Covid-19 restrictions the team. Using ideas from socio-cultural historical activity theory we explore the development of common knowledge and relational agency between team members and to analyze how relational expertise enabled problem solving and expansive learning so that we had agile responses to the challenges.

What factors influence parents’ decisions to buy products for their children? An ideal packaging proposal for mini cakes enriched with sweet potato flour

The aim of this study was to develop ideal packaging for mini cakes enriched with sweet potato flour and filled with blackberry jam. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the focus group method was used with 19 parents, divided into three subgroups based on their children’s ages: 6–9, 10–12, and 13–17 years. The interviews, conducted via Google Meet, were moderated by a researcher who followed a script of questions, with all sessions recorded with participants’ consent. Based on the collected data, eight different packaging designs were created, varying in color (purple and beige), the inclusion of games (puzzles and mobile app), and additional messages (“Satiety and energy!” and “Nutritious and tasty!”). In the second stage, 48 questionnaires were developed, each presenting the packages in different orders, and these were administered to 144 consumers. The data, analyzed using choice-based conjoint analysis, suggested that the ideal packaging for the mini cakes is purple, features puzzle imagery, and includes the message “Nutritious and tasty!”

‘Are you ready for a little chat?’1: Creating and developing WhatsApp group chats as a digital research method

AbstractThis paper explores how social media ‘group chats’ were developed and applied as a digital research method. Group chats were created using the social media platform WhatsApp to investigate issues regarding Eurovision Song Contest fan practices and their intersection with the expression of sexual identity. I argue that group chats advance our understandings of traditional focus group and remote research methods in geography. Group chats do this by providing opportunities to conduct remote research with multiple groups of people. They are also mobile, temporal, provide additional digital tools for users to express their identity, and help to improve data capture and understanding of social processes. This research highlights the benefits and disadvantages of using group chats as a digital method in terms of their organisation, delivery, data collection and analysis. Benefits include that they are mobile and instantly accessible, they can co‐ordinate groups of people who are geographically disparate, they can take place over a period of time rather than being a ‘one‐off’ event, they remove the barriers of face‐to‐face communication that produce social anxiety, and they enable the capture of multidimensional forms of data, including images, text and GIFs. Disadvantages include missing out on and recontextualising data when absent from a group chat temporarily, and limited data output from and dynamism between participants who were unavailable for long periods. I explore how applying group chats as a digital research method challenges and blurs the distinctions between the personal, the researcher and the researched, and how they can also be reaffirmed in direct messaging spaces where participants flirt with the researcher. Lastly, this paper considers the future potentials of using group chats and social media platforms, like WhatsApp, to understand the socio‐digital practices around live music events.

The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Leaders’ Performance in the Context of Early Education Institutions

Early education leaders need to embrace transformational leadership styles that promote growth and achievement to contribute to the success of the entire community. Research in this area is necessary because, according to conversations with school inspectors, the leaders of early education institutions in Romania need an adequate understanding of leadership styles, as seen by the lack of professional development courses available. Our research aimed to assess the impact of transformational leadership style on early education leaders' success as measured by operational indicators such as effectiveness, satisfaction, and extra effort. In this study, we employed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQX5) and focus group method. To determine the dominating style of the leaders in the study, correlations, regressions, and the Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. The findings indicate a connection between transformative leadership and a growth mindset that characterizes leaders. These aspects lead to high effectiveness and stimulate the individual towards continuous personal and professional development. We can conclude from the investigation that the outcomes of the leader's behavior are closely related to their leadership style and growth mindset.