30 Years and a Pandemic: Panel Discussion of the Impact on Research Methods from Social Distancing

Format Type

Plenary

Format Type

Panel

Start Date

13-1-2021 2:30 PM

End Date

13-1-2021 3:20 PM

Abstract

Our recent Covid-19 pandemic has largely accelerated the use of online and distance means for data collection and analysis. In this presentation we will discuss how the social distancing requirements during the pandemic may, and may continue to, impact the specific qualitative methods of: focus groups, narrative inquiry, phenomenology, action research, appreciative inquiry, and content analysis. In many ways the shift must be accounted for starting with topic selection, and the pandemic has offered new topics for inquiry including the shift within education to crisis online education. However, how might these studies be engaged if we are required to be socially distant, avoid in-person data collection techniques such as in-class observation or focus groups, and potentially limit the collaborative analysis of in-person research teams? An additional question becomes, “Has each method been impacted to the same extent?” Content analysis, for example, may be affected very little. Thus, it is important we discuss the ways different methods have been impacted, ways we might adapt, and how altered methods might also impact topic selection beyond the novel topics related specific to Covid-19.

Keywords

Covid-19, social distancing, data collection, data analysis

Comments

Our research group at the University of Phoenix, College of Doctoral Studies is developing a series of interviews, blogs, and papers based on how the Covid-19 crisis has impacted research and research methods. This panel presentation would be a representation of our discussions on this topic. The URL of our page is: https://research.phoenix.edu/content/research-methodology-group/covid-19-effects-research-methods

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Jan 13th, 2:30 PM Jan 13th, 3:20 PM

30 Years and a Pandemic: Panel Discussion of the Impact on Research Methods from Social Distancing

Our recent Covid-19 pandemic has largely accelerated the use of online and distance means for data collection and analysis. In this presentation we will discuss how the social distancing requirements during the pandemic may, and may continue to, impact the specific qualitative methods of: focus groups, narrative inquiry, phenomenology, action research, appreciative inquiry, and content analysis. In many ways the shift must be accounted for starting with topic selection, and the pandemic has offered new topics for inquiry including the shift within education to crisis online education. However, how might these studies be engaged if we are required to be socially distant, avoid in-person data collection techniques such as in-class observation or focus groups, and potentially limit the collaborative analysis of in-person research teams? An additional question becomes, “Has each method been impacted to the same extent?” Content analysis, for example, may be affected very little. Thus, it is important we discuss the ways different methods have been impacted, ways we might adapt, and how altered methods might also impact topic selection beyond the novel topics related specific to Covid-19.