Introduction

This chapter explores methodological issues experienced in the employment of audio teleconference focus groups in fatherhood research. Between 2009 and 2012, seeking to understand how easily (or otherwise) employed fathers were able to access flexible working, we undertook a research project entitled ‘Work–Life Balance: Working for Fathers?’, exploring how men with dependent children combine work and family commitments (Burnett et al, 2010a, 2010b). As part of this research, when recruiting fathers for face-to-face interviews and focus groups proved difficult, we utilised the medium of recordable teleconferencing technology. This enabled us to convene cross-UK qualitative focus groups. In what follows, we explain how fathers were recruited and assured anonymity, and how the teleconference focus groups were chaired and convened. In the context of research on fatherhood, we evaluate the emergent complexities integral to the entire process of running ‘teleconference’ (telecon) focus groups.

In undertaking this evaluation, we offer a reflexive appraisal of our experiences of using the telecon facility. The first section of our chapter describes the technological and procedural challenges in the commissioning of telecon focus groups. The second reflects on fathers’ confession-like admissions, and the challenges for the research team of managing sensitive and emotional conversations among and between fathers ‘on the line’.

Research design

Our research project comprised an empirical study on the impact of flexibility on the stress, health and wellbeing of working fathers. It was conducted between April 2009 through to March 2012 by a research team from Lancaster University (Simon Burnett, Caroline Gatrell, Cary Cooper and Paul Sparrow) and their partners from the renowned charity and lobbyists Working Families (led by Sarah Jackson OBE, and Policy and Research Officer Jonathan Swan).