Exploring the impact of online focus group membership on responses: insights from a study on gender and transport

Abstract

Despite considerable attention in the academic domain, end-users of transport systems are rarely directly asked what they think of gender inequity in transport. Shedding light on this could inform education strategies to address such inequities. This research addresses this research gap, revealing how people think about differences in the way transport systems support (or do not support) the safe and comfortable mobility of men and women. It does so via the use of asynchronous online focus groups, to which 114 people contributed. The research also addresses questions around the impact of focus group gender composition on participants’ responses, an issue not previously considered in online or asynchronous contexts. Results suggest there is broad acceptance of women’s transport disadvantage, with men’s views of women’s experiences largely matching women’s own reports. Women’s views of men’s experiences were less reflective of the male reality. Safety and security were commonly discussed; however, trip complexity and other constraints, driven by differences in care roles taken, were discussed less and therefore represent a potential avenue for education strategies. Group gender composition did impact upon responding, with several of the effects previously found in face-to-face focus group research also manifesting in the anonymous, online context.

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ORCID for Rich C. McIlroy: orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-8101

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