Adapting Data Collection Tools for Qualitative Research in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Over the last decades, qualitative research had gained increasing acceptance in studying experience of individuals and groups, events, process in phenomenon in diverse field of study like anthropology, sociology, health, and nursing, organizational and management, to name a few. Qualitative research encouraged an interaction between the researcher and the subject of study, with the researcher acting as an instrument of research and investigating the real-life experiences of the subjects under study. Qualitative data collection tools like field study, focus group interviews, observation, required a closer interaction between the researcher and the subject of study. However, in times of COVID-19 pandemic following the year 2019, several social restrictions to personal meeting, travel, and field visits were in placed internationally. Qualitative researchers were therefore required, by the needs of the time, to adapt the data collection and observation methods. Following a content analysis of the available scientific literature digitally, this study analyzed the changing landscape of qualitative data collection tools. This paper attempts to highlight how qualitative data collection tools can be adapted to the times during and post COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of tools like online video calls, asynchronous interviews, virtual reality devices and camera tours, alternatives to the conventional qualitative data collection tools could be identified. With benefits of time and cost saving offered by these alternative qualitative data collection tools, the author puts forward the relevance of these alternative tools not only in times of the COVID-19 pandemic but also in post pandemic times.