Qualitative Research During a Pandemic (Part 5)

Hello Qualitative Mind,

This is the final post of the Qualitative Research During a Pandemic series. The pandemic is not over and likely will not be for a while. However, starting next week, we will go back to posting content that is applicable to any qualitative research project despite the current circumstances.

I wanted to finish the series on a high, positive note by addressing the opportunities that might arise in your field because of COVID-19. I have seen a few people share that many academic journals will have special issues to address the implications of the pandemic, which pretty much relates to what I am going to say in the next few paragraphs.[If you are curious as to where I saw these posts, I  am part of “I Should Be Writing” with Cathy Mazak and find it super valuable.]

How can we make “research” lemonade out of COVID-19?

When the number of COVID-19 cases started to rapidly escalate, which led to the lockdown in many countries, we spent a few weeks in panic mode. We played worst case scenarios in our heads, and pretty much experienced pre-traumatic stress in multiple spheres of our lives (yes, you read it right pre-traumatic stress and we might still be experiencing it). It is hard to see a pandemic as a learning opportunity but, in my opinion, it is one qualitative researchers need to acknowledge and, if possible, embrace.

Qualitative research is about human experiences and, as I previously said in other posts, we are all experiencing the pandemic in one way or another. Some research teams that will soon start their data collection and have research topics that can be related to COVID-19 can grab the chance to create new knowledge related to an undesirable yet real situation. One person I talked to was exploring university students’ wellbeing and supports, and boldly decided to pivot her research questions in response to the current pandemic. I think there will be so much to be learned about how university students perceived the supports offered (or not offered) in their academic institutions, as well as how they felt when their classes and communities moved online.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 8,098 people worldwide became sick with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in the 2003 outbreak, and more than 750 died. Most of the individuals afflicted by SARS were healthcare workers and, as a result, we can find an extensive body of work related to SARS and healthcare workers.

As of April 20, 2020, there have been 2,447,920 COVID-19 cases and 168,500 deaths worldwide. The magnitude and reach of the COVID-19 pandemic are immense, extending way beyond health workers and health-related issues. We will need to explore how COVID-19 redefined cultural norms, increased social disparities, reshaped suffering, grief, joy…the list goes on and on.

I will close today’s post with an invitation. I am inviting you to reflect on how the pandemic will change your participants, research team(s), and qualitative research projects. Moreover, in what ways can you embrace the changes? There will be life post-pandemic, and qualitative research can elucidate ways we can support people in moving forward.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Talk soon,

Maira Quintanilha