Qualitative Research During a Pandemic (Part 2 with Stephanie Klarmann)

Hello Qualitative Mind,

Today’s blog post was written in collaboration with someone I have had the pleasure to know for a few months as an online classmate and trusted colleague. Her name is Stephanie Klarmann, and she is a PhD Student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. After Stephanie’s text, you will read my two cents on what she is sharing with us.

I would like to thank Stephanie for writing this as everything was happening and rapidly changing in South Africa last week:

Field research during a pandemic

This has certainly been a period of anxiety across the world. Normal life has been disrupted, and, as I write this, we are entering our first day of lockdown in South Africa. Uncertainty abounds.

As social researchers our lives are spent understanding people and immersing ourselves amongst people, often from other cultures. Very often, we work with vulnerable groups, which is why my research took a nosedive just last week when the realisation hit. Coronavirus had hit SA and I urgently needed to make a decision. My research goals were now conflicted with my participants’ best interests and their health was literally at stake.  

As with any field research, months of preparation went into a single introductory focus group with my participants. Not only was I really looking forward to getting my project going, but it sounded like the outreach students, who would be part of the group, were excited to start using their photography skills in a photovoice project. I don't want to lose the group or make them feel like I've simply left, so I've been thinking of digital alternatives. It is also necessary to bear in mind that the group is from a township area in which internet access is expensive.

To ensure I do not drop a group of youth excited to be involved in a new project, I have since been considering various digital options. For one, a WhatsApp group has been very appealing to them. In addition, a closed Facebook group has been created with the aim of sharing during the course of the project. I now hope that my Facebook group will become a virtual space to conduct interviews.

Whilst many options exist to hold online groups, such as Zoom, Skype, Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams, internet access is my one overriding consideration. This is likely to be the case for other researchers working in rural and other previously disadvantaged communities. Overcoming these challenges during times of social distancing and even lockdown is now of utmost importance to social researchers who need to dig deep, remain flexible, and search for innovative solutions. Most importantly, how do we create a feeling of community and social engagement in an online environment? Is this a sufficient substitute to immerse ourselves in other social groups?

Working with savvy and enthusiastic youth makes me hopeful that this certainly can work, perhaps with a number of surprising benefits that would not be available in a single face-to-face focus group.

Stephanie Klarmann

I found Stephanie’s writing so interesting and rich. For one, I am quite certain that many of us (note I am including myself) might not have the struggle she has had in ensuring participants have adequate internet access and enough data in their internet usage plans. I think she is very mindful of her participants’ situations, and being inclusive as she meets their needs.

It goes without saying that any digital option Stephanie decides to use will need to be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Board at her university. Additionally, because she might be working with youth digitally for many months, she will need to be more assertive than ever about confidentiality. As researchers, we always ask focus group participants not to share any comments outside of the group, and to be respectful of others. So, what do we need to do in order to create a sense of responsibility and respect online? How do we address the fact that a print screen or an unauthorized recording is unacceptable and might have unintended, harmful consequences? In my opinion, these are all questions that need to be discussed with participants before any data collection begins. Participants need to be part of setting the ground rules if they are going to be really, truly following them.

The other piece of Stephanie’s post that I found super interesting was youth’s interest in using WhatsApp. In Canada and the United States, WhatsApp is not as popular as it is in emerging economies around the globe. In Brazil, for example, doing business transactions, making doctors’ appointments, establishing first contacts, having friendly and family conversations happen all the time through WhatsApp. I have been in Canada for more than a decade and talk to my best friends from Junior High almost daily on the app. I truly feel connected to them despite the physical distance. This is all to say, WhatsApp may be a feasible (and novel) way to conduct qualitative research with youth. She might want to consider encouraging them to audio record their reflections, thoughts and ideas about conservation and photography through WhatsApp, and then send her those audio messages as they see fit. If she receives ethical approval, she might transcribe the WhatsApp audio recordings and analyze them as any other data would be.

I am not going to lie. I know that Stephanie will have to think about 101 things she would not have to consider so carefully in “normal” in-person circumstances. However, I also think she will have an incredible opportunity to conduct innovative, interesting, cost-effective research with youth in South Africa. Something that might inform other researchers working in similar contexts in other countries. Above all, I know Stephanie and her participants can thrive amid current adversities and learn so much.

Stephanie, I am excited to know I will be part of your journey and look forward to the next steps. We have always been socially distant, yet connected through qualitative research. Hopefully the connection grows stronger.

To all of you, do not let fear drive your decisions. Be courageous in your next research steps.

Talk soon,

Maira