just wondered what your views are on participant checking after focus group discussions. I have analysed most of my data and have made a draft paper.
I have read that a quality marker is that participants had been asked to provide feedback on the paper. If I would do that it would mean a lot of extra work (trying to get these groups together again, a virtually impossible task!) Any views on how important this is?
My friend who is very political in her philosophies thinks it's terrible not to do participant checking. I kind of agree but I don't do it because the way I analyse my focus groups attempts to contextualise and experiences can change hugely and therefore peoples opinions can change (I'm quite into phenomenological research).
So, don't worry too much if it's too much hard work. You just need to justify it and there's plenty out there written on it.