Qualitative Research During a Pandemic (Part 1)
Hello Qualitative Mind*,
I usually write and schedule the Quali Q blog posts in monthly batches, which means that everything I had written for March became out of context in the midst of what we are collectively going through with COVID-19.
The pandemic is affecting so many people on all continents, and we are experiencing it in different ways…as citizens, as sons and daughters, as mothers and fathers, as professionals, employees, students, business owners, and retirees, etc. In one way or another, we are all perceiving, experiencing, feeling, and living in this pandemic. The current reality will also have implications for qualitative research that is conducted now or anytime soon (dare I say, within the next year or many years).
In response to that, last Wednesday, March 25th, I recorded a live video on our now archived Facebook group to discuss some of the possible implications of the pandemic on qualitative research projects happening worldwide. The two areas that I see requiring changes in qualitative research design and/or protocols (which, in my opinion, could become opportunities) relate to:
1) Research medium, i.e., going from in-person, face-to-face interviews or focus groups to online, long-distance methods of data collection
2) Research topic and how we, as researchers, are going to deal with the fact that our participants might want or need to talk about COVID-19 as they interact with us or among themselves
In the next few weeks I will cover these two areas in more detail. This is my effort to support anyone who is navigating qualitative research during a pandemic, and having to make pivots and key decisions. I will be drawing on my experience, on others’ experiences, as well as on the literature (especially on Theory of Technique and ethics).
The next blog post will present Stephanie Klarmann’s photovoice project and evolving changes in South Africa.
I hope this Quali Q content helps and inspires you to move forward.
Talk soon,
Maira
P.S: I used to call blog readers “Curious Learners” but ever since I used “Qualitative Minds” to name the (now archived) Facebook page and group, I have been wanting to change how I call my readers. So, welcome, Qualitative Minds!