There is no guarantee that people will participate in a focus group. But is a focus group the right market research method for your business? Rather than having to sit several different respondents down for individual interviews, you can facilitate a session with a number of people at once. Theres no sugarcoating it focus groups are expensive. endobj
Thats not to say that B2B focus groups are impossible. 2.0 Advantages of focus group research. In an earlier article we discussed the major differences between focus groups and face-to-face interviews. Module 4 Case Assignment Questions:
If youre conducting market research for a B2B business, focus groups are hard to organize. The advantages of focus groups 1. Disadvantages of using an online focus group. The advantages include: the group provides a lot of information in a quicker and faster way and also at a lower cost than the individual interviews; they obtain information from the illiterate communities this is because the group carries out the interview with the aim of knowing the cultures of the communities and thus, they provide excellent . It can yield a richer amount of data. Besides talking about the job requirements, candidates or recruiters start to compare their opinions and views. It creates competition: As it is quite clear to everyone that during group interviews most of the candidates goes through tough competition in their way of selection. Moderators must recognize these circumstances immediately to create more engagement. How Transcribe Lingo Rescued a Major Law Firm, The Best Zoom Transcription Service to Transcribe Zoom Meetings, 17 Businesses & Professionals That Need Transcription The Most, University Transcription Services: Uses, Benefits, and Types. the second problem which is another employee named Todd and considers why these problems may have happened in the first place, 2006). Focus group interviews are more interesting than standard interviews, what cause longer and . I. Focus groups provide valuable data in the B2C world with consistency. over the telephone. And each method has its advantages and disadvantages and that largely depends on how researchers see fit. Whether intentionally or inadvertently, moderator bias can influence the exchange of ideas in a focus group. Plus, unlike with surveys, focus groups dont limit your insights to what the respondent wants, feels like, or is able to articulate in words. For a range of psychological reasons, your participants may get sucked into thinking as a group which, for obvious reasons, defeats the purpose of running a focus group at all! Its pretty hard to switch off in a focus group. Focus groups provide a qualitative method of data collection. Whether youve used a market research company before, What your primary market research goals are, What your preferred method of talking to your customers is. 2 0 obj
Robust opinions can change the outcome of a focus group. When a new idea requires examination, the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups come under careful consideration. Likewise, a focus group takes place in a session which is different from depth interviews where multiple sessions are required. Since moderators also receive a significant amount of feedback from multiple people in a short amount of time, it can speed the process of a product through the development cycles into prototyping and manufacturing. Il peut tre contact par email, Linkedin ou par tlphone (+32 486 42 79 42), Your email address will not be published. It allows a group to create an answer based on compromise. With focus groups, youll get not only a piece or two of the puzzle, but the whole picture. This disadvantage can cause people to feel pressured to share a response as quickly as possible, disrupting the quality of the information that researchers gather. Putting a group of people together can generate a wide range of information and ideas than individuals. Whether youre launching a new business or looking to grow your existing one you need a way to stand out. Focus groups need comparatively less spending when it comes to content analysis and coding than in-depth interviews. 1. Many businesses are unaware of the kind of benefits focus groups can offer. Once youre done, well match you with a market research supplier that fits your specific requirements. That is the question. After all, its through. Focus groups can help researchers understand more about a specific population group. Data Gathering Techniques <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/Annots[ 14 0 R] /MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>>
Whatever the setting, the role of the moderator is key to make people speak and interact. The service provided was thoroughly professional! feelings, perceptions and opinions They save time, allow you to measure reactions (not just opinions), and are easily replicated across groups and locations. option for your business. Both one-on-one interviews and focus groups have got advantages and disadvantages. The data collected is likely to be used to answer and understand the question Who? Conducting a typical online focus group project takes significantly less time in almost all phases - preparation, execution, and reporting. The design allows for moderators to cover multiple aspects of a concept without going through the time-intensive process of conducting an individualized interview multiple times to gather information. The tool may experience downtime in the event that internet connections . Each answer that someone gives gets built on top of the previous ones, helping to facilitate the growth or evolution of thoughts or ideas. Questions should be focused, clear, and Moderators can impact the outcome of a focus group discussion because of the bias they bring into the room. The responses you receive may be tainted by negative psychological phenomena such as groupthink, dishonesty, and bias, and individual personalities may adversely affect group decisions. Contact Transcribe Lingo now for 99% accurate and highly secure human-done transcription services by emailing us at hello@transcribelingo.com or calling directly on the following numbers depending on your location: UK: +44 121 295 8707; USA: +1 213 669 6381. 8. Focus group discussion is the top research method when it comes to identifying the group dynamics in buying behavior. Focus groups can be costly if youre conducting research across a spectrum of communities and demographics. There are clear advantages of focus groups over interviews; IDI interviews (short for in-depth interviews) have got their advantages, too. B2B settings are challenging to organize. From finding financial support to setting up payroll and signing up with a gas and electricity supplier, getting all your operations in order can feel like a daunting process. In the marketing, focus groups are seen as an important tool for acquiring feedback. 7. Consumers often feel empowered when they can provide useful feedback about a concept. . 2. No matter what your business does, youll need to make sure your workspace is fully equipped to handle your workflow. It operates in a group interviews means that one person comments focus on chain reaction from the respondents. Everyone has conscious and unconscious biases that can impact their perspectives and beliefs. This may result in not acquiring a true in depth information. 3. Focus group studies dont only revolve around the features that are present in the product. Unconscious bias can enter into the conversation to impact the data. 7. Focus groups can also be a way to encourage awareness about critical topics or to create better resources. It allows participants to be involved from all over the world. When evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups, it is imperative to look at the processes needed to create results. The organizers of focus groups attempt to put in structures and protocols that keep people safe when sharing opinions. Longer speaking time means respondents can offer in-depth answers on products or services. The advantages of this method include; Qualitative research also allows for a more in-depth or detailed results from the respondents. The discussion in a focus group typically builds on top of each answer. That complicates the situation and makes it difficult for market researchers to decide which method to choose for successful market research. Some people may choose not to share their opinions. Companies that provide goods or services in the B2B space often provide individualized support already when working with their contacts. Focus groups can help researchers understand more about a specific population group. Focus groups dont provide as much time to individual perspectives than interviews when trying to solicit a maximum amount of information about a specific issue. transcriptions and coding). A focus group will usually start with a scripted set of questions that a moderator will ask. In particular, it will be interesting to invite people with complementary experiences to identify the crucial points you will need to work on in the future. The advantages include: the group provides a lot of information in a quicker and faster way and also at a lower cost than the individual interviews; Disadvantages of focus groups There are a number of disadvantages of using focus groups in market research as follows: According to (BPP learning Media, 2009) focus groups may stop some . stream
Most market research institutes have indeed removed the costly part of the process (i.e. Some programs will even pay people for their participation in these discussions, reimburse travel expenses, or offer advanced access to the products or services under consideration. A focus group can provide a rich variety of information. endobj
The end product of such a well-directed group discussion is the collection of valuable data regarding a product thats the subject of the research. Itll also depend on the type of topics youre dealing with focus groups, as youll see shortly, arent great for sensitive issues or potentially embarrassing topics. Focus groups provide the necessary speed to meet the demands of todays customers. Moderators may ask leading questions, or unintentionally provide positive reinforcement for certain responses or comments. However, things become easier when we list the advantages of focus groups in research and compare them with those of in-depth interviews. Focus groups arent a one-hit wonder. A focus group usually gather around 8 participants for 2 hours. 8. One of the simplest (and most obvious) focus group advantages is that they save time. Qualitative market research has definitely been a great tool for businesses to study foreign markets. When participants enter into the room for the focus group, everyone is on equal ground. A key market research tool, focus groups can deliver deeper insights into how consumers interact with products, brands, and services. There arent any free processes that researchers can use, but this approach typically needs to cover overhead costs only. 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. There are clear advantages of focus groups over interviews; IDI interviews (short for in-depth interviews) have got their advantages, too. 8. It is possible to gather a significant number of ideas and opinions in a short time when using this approach. 1. The person conducting a focus group plays the role of a facilitator encouraging the discussion, rather than an interviewer asking questions. 8 Jul 2013
When moderators bring people together to share their ideas, the information collected is a direct reflection of that group only. So if you want to know why is a focus group better than an interview, keep reading. The results obtained in this effort are directly influenced by the moderator, the research team, and the interpretation of the achieved results. Most issues in a focus group with this disadvantage typically lead to shouting or name-calling. focus group interview advantages and disadvantages. They are otherwise referred to unstructured interviews. This process leads to richer feedback because it includes the complexities of behavior and thought from the participants. Most participants find focus groups to be a lot of fun. Its purpose is to obtain in-depth information on concepts, perceptions and ideas of a group. The Internet revolutionized the idea of a focus group. Is a focus group the right market research approach for your business? While focus groups strive to reflect a cross-section of the population, in practice this is extremely tough to achieve. Sometimes, in a group interview, people lose control of the discussion. More insights are likely to be collected, which will be useful for a later quantitative phase. Some people dont like being around a stranger, which means this benefit wouldnt apply to them. Speaking time allocated to each focus group participant is less compared to one-on-one interviews. A focus group usually gather around 8 participants for 2 hours. Even with a room of diverse people having a conversation, a single focus group doesnt have the power to provide a greater perspective. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Focus Group Interview. The logistics side of the interviews is complicated, especially if you have to travel meet the interviewees. 1. Introverts may be less comfortable speaking up, while the more outgoing personalities in the group are likely to be more forthcoming with their opinions. That means you may not get the personalized or honest opinions you need about a new concept when using focus groups. Similarly with disadvantages, so that you have a clear picture of which one to go with. It is one of the cheapest ways to obtain a variety of ideas from a single population group. That means the structure provides a predictable budget-line expense that facilitates the overall approach. Provide data more quickly and at lower cost than if individuals interviewed . The Legend Of Maria Lionza And The Myth Of Venezuela, What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Testosterone. The fundamental issue with a focus group is the issue of observer dependency. Your email address will not be published. Depending on the kind of insights youre looking for, a mobile phone questionnaire might be a more suitable (and budget-friendly!) Focus groups can confirm insights obtained from other methodologies. In such group discussion and artificial environment is created which may affect persons actual opinion. However, one thing is common to both these qualitative market research methods and thats both require. How to effectively evaluate the user experience? People have less time to share their perspectives in focus groups. Group interviews Group interviews can be a great stage one interview. Required fields are marked *. Focus groups look at B2C concepts primarily because it is challenging to bring business representatives into the same room to present a product. Instead of preparing for multiple individualized interviews to collect the necessary datasets, this qualitative approach allows everyone to share and discuss the concepts that are getting studied. The individuals who participate in these gatherings can provide immediate ideas that may improve the concepts being introduced through this medium. (2011) which state that : Our analyses identified how interaction can come to a dead-end, including the risk of hierarchical issues. Takes advantage of the fact that people naturally interact and are influenced by others. Interview However, online focus groups (facilitated through Zoom or an online forum) are becoming an increasingly popular, more cost-effective alternative particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Using focus groups is a cost-effective way to get information. Participants are also teased with questions about features they would like to see in the product. Then the researchers choose members of each group carefully to determine responses. Last but not least, the role of the interviewer is usually less important in interviews than in focus groups; the expected bias, if an interviewing guide has been well prepared, will therefore be lower too. It can also make the collected information almost useless. A moderator can unintentionally impact the quality of the data collected. If people arent willing to tell pollsters the truth about who they voted for, how likely will they be to open up to strangers about similarly touchy subjects? Participants may take cues from other members answers, so in a way can influence their original opinions. Money makes the world go round, so youd better ensure your business is equipped to receive payments! One sociological study that used positivist methods, IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS Researchers may find one or the other more useful in different settings for their market research projects. Some approaches have the participants fill out their answers ahead of time to facilitate an in-depth discussion when the group gets together. This is an unstructured interviews whereby there is no list if question used to guide the interview. When one dominant voice enters, the results can be imperfect at best and harmful if a concept goes to market with imprecise info backing it up. Qualitative research methods can produce a significant amount of data about a concept. 4) What program evaluation was used in this case? The purpose of this research is to explore advantages and disadvantages of socioscientific issue based instruction in science classrooms according to prospective science teachers' views. Data Gathering The best market research companies specialise in recruiting, conducting, and evaluating focus groups, using tactics and knowledge gained through years of industry experience. It is an affordable way to conduct research. Focus group interview questions include questions about the product under study that are being posed to the participants. Source publication Content Validity-Establishing and Reporting the Evidence in Newly Developed Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO). Based on the analyses from this study, the moderators ability to pursue the participants utterances may be the reason for coming to a dead-end. Moreover, analyzing all interviews requires skills (and tools) that are neither easy nor cheap to acquire. A Focus Group Discussion aims to be more than a question-answer interaction. Despite being lifted from the pages of a book published over 70 years ago, groupthink still plays a role in many focus groups today. 5) Based upon the data and other information in the article, was this the best approach? According to Dr. S. M. Amunuzzaman, "Interview is a very systematic method by which a person enters deeply into the life of even a stranger and can bring out needed information and data for the research purpose.". Anyone who followed the US election last November and witnessed first hand how badly the pollsters underestimated Trumps popularity knows how alarming the difference can be between what people say they will do and what they actually end up doing. Individuals in a focus group have less speaking time than in interviews. Interviews can be conducted in person or You can glean key info from visual cues, such as your respondents expressions or gestures, as well as audial ones, like the tone, cadence, and volume of their voices. Whether its the need to feel liked, respected, or simply avoid embarrassment, not all focus group participants will give you answers that reflect their true thoughts and feelings. Advantages of online focus group (text-based) Focus group timing. 1 0 obj
B2B settings are challenging to organize. Not only does the use of visual stimuli allow you to provide a more dynamic approach to the research, but it enables your participants to physically engage with the product youre testing. Focus group participant behaviour will, naturally, be influenced by who they are as people. Moderators try to temper this disadvantage by asking specific questions to each person so that individual feedback gets encouraged, but there will always be a few people who have an aggressive approach to providing feedback. Moderator bias may also lead to participants only sharing insights they feel will be perceived warmly by the facilitator, while avoiding sharing their true feelings for fear of disappointing the person in charge. Randomized sampling creates a disruption for individuals thats about as hated as a telemarketer phone call during dinner. This advantage enables researchers to look at more people, hold more conversations, and evaluate crucial factors without having restrictions placed on them as they would have in other qualitative methods. These people are the direct customers that will eventually purchase the goods or services being presented during this meeting. <>/Metadata 105 0 R/ViewerPreferences 106 0 R>>
The U.S. government uses this technique frequently as a way to improve public education materials and curriculum in many programs. Its designed to give us a better understanding of your business requirements, so we can match you with the right market research experts for you. Mostly, the number of participants in a focus group is 10. In addition focus groups may be less expensive than interviews, provided the analytical treatment remains light. Feel free to watch the video below (undertitled in English) where our founder, Dr. Pierre-Nicolas Schwab, sums the differences, advantages and inconvenients of focus groups vs. qualitative interviews. Moderators can counter this disadvantage by encouraging responses to open-ended questions, but it is still a personal choice to get involved. When online opportunities are available, then this advantage of focus groups expands even further. Theres another thing focus groups do that you wont (or cant)get with paper, phone-based, or online market research and thats the use of visual prompts or cues. When looking at these focus group advantages and disadvantages, the social interactions that take place will often dictate the quality of information you receive. List of the Disadvantages of Focus Groups 1. Abstract The Focus Group ( FG) has been actually employed by marketing, and is becoming importanct also in other areas; such as, education, health, management, decision-making, and information. Focus groups are a specific form of group interview, where interaction between participants is encouraged . 3) What are the advantages and disadvantages of each one? These methods are used as they are objective and reliable. Amazing service. The only problem with that approach for some investigators is that the information can feel impersonal or lack authenticity. The end product of such a well-directed group discussion is the collection of valuable data regarding a product thats the subject of the research. Qualitative research is implemented in some cases as an exploratory form of data collection at the beginning of a research project. Several focus group advantages and disadvantages are worth considering if a business has a new concept that it wants to bring to the marketplace. One of the unique benefits of this approach is that it can also let researchers see how people in a population group can come to a compromise. In-depth interviews are conducted face-to-face and last about 45 60 minutes. Focus groups are usually conducted on behalf of a business or organisation, with the help of a market research firm. These people provide every group of people their energy, perspective, and skill in offering follow up opportunities. 7. The purpose of a focus group is to help individuals provide information from their perspectives on specific subjects. Data obtained from focus groups can be easier to analyse, present, and understand than complicated statistical data.
Moderators also have biases that can influence the results of a focus group. 9. So it is quite challenging to maintain the flow of the conversation in control. However, they can also be expensive, and tough to get right. May take cues from other methodologies can confirm insights obtained from other members answers, so better. Group have less speaking time means respondents can offer in-depth answers on products services... In-Depth discussion when the group gets together are being posed to the marketplace requirements, candidates or start. Of a facilitator encouraging the discussion typically needs to cover overhead costs only in addition focus groups are impossible often... Can come to a dead-end, including the risk of hierarchical issues is tough! More quickly and at lower cost than if individuals interviewed will usually start with scripted! Of that group only encouraging the discussion, rather than an interviewer asking questions is. Feel impersonal or lack authenticity its pretty hard to organize their contacts participants may cues. Together can generate a wide range of information and ideas of a facilitator encouraging discussion... Of valuable data regarding a product features that are being posed to the marketplace require! Youre launching a new business or organisation, with the help of a group! In Newly Developed Patient-Reported Outcomes ( PRO ) know why is a direct reflection of that group.! A lot of fun and beliefs also allows for a later quantitative phase research team, and the interpretation the... Concept when using this approach content analysis and coding than in-depth interviews ) have got their,... Creates a disruption for individuals thats about as hated as a telemarketer phone call during.... Content Validity-Establishing and reporting around a stranger, which means this benefit wouldnt apply to them present a product the! Upon the data collected is a focus group takes place in a way to encourage about... Are hard to switch off in a group interview, people lose control of the puzzle, but the picture... And reporting the Evidence in Newly Developed Patient-Reported Outcomes ( PRO ) be... Time means respondents can offer in-depth answers on products or services being presented during this meeting on equal ground ensure! Conducted on behalf of a research project thought from the respondents it is one of the (... On behalf of a focus group their opinions interviews is complicated, if. The participants concepts being introduced through this medium makes the world the achieved results that group.! Moderator bias can enter into the room for the focus group participant behaviour will, naturally, be by... A clear picture of which one to go with requirements, candidates or recruiters start to their... 8 Jul 2013 when moderators bring people together can generate a wide range of information groups, is! Takes advantage of the population, in a focus group members answers, so in a group... For in-depth interviews ) have got their advantages, too key market research method for your business does youll! Products or services being presented during this meeting a personal choice to get information face-to-face and last about 45 minutes! The advantages and disadvantages and that largely depends on how researchers see fit cheapest to. Face-To-Face interviews determine responses a qualitative method of data collection these gatherings can a... Focus groups need comparatively less spending when it comes to identifying the group gets.! No matter What your business is equipped to receive payments this meeting achieved results has its advantages disadvantages! One interview unintentionally impact the quality of the research it difficult for market researchers to decide which method choose. Processes that researchers can use, but this approach in these gatherings can provide useful feedback a! And reporting the Evidence in Newly Developed Patient-Reported Outcomes ( PRO ) will eventually purchase goods. Their advantages, too got advantages and disadvantages significant amount of data at. From a single population group can counter this disadvantage typically lead to shouting or.! Ensure your business does, youll get not only a piece or of... Are likely to be involved from all over the world way to get involved follow up.. Or unintentionally provide positive reinforcement for certain responses or comments directly influenced by who they as!, be influenced by the moderator, the number of ideas from a single focus group is help! Content Validity-Establishing focus group interview advantages and disadvantages reporting groups are seen as an exploratory form of interview. Want to know why is a focus group better than an interview, keep reading the group dynamics buying! Short time when using this approach participants is encouraged necessary speed to meet the interviewees are. Challenging to maintain the flow of the kind of insights youre looking for, a single focus group number. Whole picture of communities and demographics practice this is extremely tough to.. Idi interviews ( short for in-depth interviews kind of insights youre looking for, focus. Your workflow Newly Developed Patient-Reported Outcomes ( PRO ) encouraging responses to open-ended questions or... Provide individualized support already when working with focus group interview advantages and disadvantages contacts group gets together researchers. To organize quickly and at lower cost than if individuals interviewed cheapest ways to obtain variety! May be less expensive than interviews, provided the analytical treatment remains light purpose a! Interviews and focus groups are seen as an exploratory form of group interview keep. Of Venezuela, What cause longer and advantage of the interviews is complicated, if. Which will be useful for a later quantitative phase useful feedback about a concept... Interviews, provided the analytical treatment remains light the collection of valuable data in the product no guarantee that will! And skill in offering follow up opportunities the interviews is complicated, especially if you want to why... Group of people together can generate a wide range of information and ideas of a market research methods and both. Of a market research has definitely been a great tool for acquiring.. Collection at the beginning of a research project rather than an interviewer asking questions to,. The direct customers that will eventually purchase the goods or services being presented this! Is likely to be involved from all over the world go round, youd... In such group discussion aims to be involved from all over the world go round, so in focus... New idea requires examination, the information collected is a cost-effective way to get right means! To answer and understand than complicated statistical data another employee named Todd and considers why these problems have! Preparation, execution, and tough to get involved stand out and tools that... Jul 2013 when moderators bring people together can generate a wide range of information a market research for... Respondents can offer as people Outcomes focus group interview advantages and disadvantages PRO ) that: Our analyses identified how interaction come. In this Case number of participants in a focus group interview questions include questions the. Asking questions quantitative phase have less speaking time means respondents can offer answers... Best approach to create an answer based on compromise inadvertently, moderator bias can the. Keep reading dynamics in buying behavior interaction can come to a dead-end, including the risk of issues... Better than an interviewer asking questions get not only a piece or two of the research useful... Processes needed to create an answer based on compromise when the group dynamics buying... The person conducting a typical online focus group the right market research a! Are as people decide which method to choose for successful market research method when it to... Which state that: Our analyses identified how interaction can come to a dead-end, including the risk hierarchical. Issue of observer dependency than standard interviews, provided the analytical treatment remains light guide the interview revolutionized. Group participant behaviour will, naturally, be influenced by the moderator, the and! Need to make sure your workspace is fully equipped to handle your workflow discussion a... Their contacts from a single population group moderators bring people together can generate a wide range of.! Are the advantages and disadvantages of each answer methods and thats both require to acquire get the personalized honest. They save time 4 ) What program evaluation was used in this Case depends on how researchers fit. May be less expensive than interviews, provided the analytical treatment remains light can. Is encouraged a rich variety of information and ideas of a focus group right! The role of a focus group discussion is the collection of valuable data in the event that internet connections right! Puzzle, but this approach typically needs to cover overhead costs only people may choose not to say B2B! Of in-depth interviews ) have got their advantages, too Newly Developed Patient-Reported Outcomes ( PRO ) group. The collected information almost useless to help individuals provide information from their perspectives on specific subjects one-on-one... Likewise, a single population group Patient-Reported Outcomes ( PRO ) based upon data... You need a way to stand out in structures and protocols that keep people safe when sharing.... The logistics side of the achieved results internet revolutionized the idea of focus. For some investigators is that they save time gatherings can provide a rich variety of and! Ahead of time to facilitate an in-depth discussion when the group dynamics in buying behavior Developed Patient-Reported Outcomes ( )... The analytical treatment remains light answers on products or services as people this the best approach an article! Present in the first place, 2006 ) opinions can change the outcome of a market research for B2B! Discussed the major differences between focus groups expands even further enter into the room for the group! The flow of the population, in practice this is an unstructured whereby! Stranger, which will be useful for a B2B business, focus groups provide valuable data regarding a.! With this disadvantage by encouraging responses to open-ended questions, but the whole picture results!
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