Adolescents' Views on Digital Media
Focus Group Interviews
In April and May 2023, we conducted focus groups in two secondary schools located in the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland in the Netherlands. We brought together students from MAVO and HAVO levels (ages 14–16) to discuss their experiences with digital media. In total, 10 focus groups were held, with separate sessions for boys and girls, each consisting of 6 to 10 students.
​
During the sessions, students reflected on three broad questions:
-
What are the positive and negative effects of digital media use?
-
What are the reasons for these effects?
-
Do you feel a need to change your digital media use?
-
​
These discussions offered rich insights into how adolescents perceive the role of digital media in their lives. Emerging themes included cybersafety, feelings of addiction, boredom and entertainment, parental media use, and strategies for managing digital habits.
​
We are currently analyzing the material. Each focus group interview is being fully transcribed and independently coded by two researchers, following a collaboratively developed coding protocol and under supervision. Findings will be shared once the coding and analysis are complete.
This study was conducted with full ethical approval from the Ethics Review Board of the University of Amsterdam.
Study I
Title
: Focus Groups
Category
: Qualitative Research
Research Year
Location
: 2023
: Netherlands
Interested to participate?
Contact us to discuss opportunities for your school/organisation to participate. In addition to participating in relevant research, we can also come at useful insights together!
+31 6 813 563 44
