Online Data Collection Research Articles

Self-perception of health and physical activity levels among the youth and adults before and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emerging research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions led to decreased physical activity levels and poorer health globally. However, most studies on this topic have focused on advanced countries, leaving a gap in understanding the impact in countries like Ghana. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing self-perceived health status and physical activity levels among youth and adults in Ghana before, during, and after the COVID-19 restrictions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for informing public health interventions and policies to promote well-being during and beyond the pandemic. A cross-sectional survey using online data collection methods was conducted, involving 937 participants. Data included demographic information, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Analysis was done using SPSS version 25, with descriptive statistics and multinomial regression. Most participants (89.6%) reported good health. Male participants were significantly more likely to engage in moderate (1.78 times) and high (3.17 times) physical activity during the COVID-19 period compared to females. This study highlights gender disparities in physical activity levels during the pandemic in Ghana. Addressing these disparities and promoting healthier lifestyles, especially during crises, is crucial for general and mental health. Further research should explore socio-demographic factors' role in health behaviors during pandemics.

Factors associated with work engagement among specialist nurses in china: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe positive impacts of work engagement among specialist nurses on retention, organizational commitment, and quality of care are well-documented. However, there is a lack of research on the specific differences in work engagement among specialist nurses. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the level of work engagement among specialist nurses in China and identify its influencing factors.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in China from April to July, 2023, with 724 nurses selected from 22 hospitals through convenience sampling involved. The survey was conducted by using self-administered general information questionnaires and work engagement scales. Questionnaire Star was employed as the online data collection tool. The collected data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analysis to draw meaningful conclusions from the study.ResultsAmong specialist nurses in Xiamen, China, who had a response rate of 97.10%, an average work engagement score is 140.35 (SD=18.17), with the highest score for the work attitude at 4.65 (SD=0.52) and the lowest score for the work recognition at 4.09 (SD=0.85). It was shown through regression analysis that factors such as career satisfaction, involvement in challenging case discussions, marital status, gender, presence of promotion advantage and title accounted for 14.5% of the total variance in the model and were significant explanatory variables that could predict work engagement.ConclusionIt is shown that specialist nurses in Xiamen, China have a high level of work engagement. It is imperative for nursing managers to prioritize the work engagement of specialist nurses, provide the specialist nurses with ample development opportunities and room for growth, and effectively promote the overall development of specialist nurses by improving work engagement in various aspects.

Examining mediating and moderating influences among career competencies and leadership aspiration

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between career competencies and leadership aspiration among women IT/ITeS professionals in South India, examining the mediating effects of work role salience and occupational self-efficacy, along with the moderating effect of achievement aspiration.Design/methodology/approachThe sample consists of 348 women professionals working in the IT/ITeS industry in South India. The study adopts a descriptive methodology and employs a cross-sectional research design.FindingsThe result shows that work role salience mediates the relationship between career competencies and leadership aspiration and that this mediation is moderated by achievement aspiration. Additionally, occupational self-efficacy is found to have a supplementary effect on leadership aspiration, further contributing to the model.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the limitations of online data collection, the study showcases adaptability, providing valuable insights into women's career aspirations. It acknowledges opportunities for future research improvements, such as implementing longitudinal frameworks and incorporating a more diverse sample, to enhance the robustness and applicability of findings.Practical implicationsThe study offers valuable insights for managers, researchers and academia, aiding in the identification of crucial competencies for women aspiring to leadership roles, and fostering the retention of top talent in a diverse and inclusive work environment. Individuals can leverage these insights for enhanced career development by recognizing and emphasizing strengths while addressing weaknesses through accurate self-assessments.Originality/valueThis study offers a novel perspective by identifying the essential competencies that are crucial for women to achieve leadership positions, thus making a valuable contribution to the existing literature in the field.

Bilingualism and flexibility in task switching

Abstract This study aimed to closely replicate Wiseheart et al. (Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 19(1), 141–146, 2016) by investigating the transferability of language-switching skills to nonlinguistic task switching. Current evidence is mixed and there is a need to conduct robust replications in this area. Bilingual (n = 31) and monolingual (n = 47) young adults characterized stimuli by either colour or shape based on a given cue. Modifications include online data collection (as opposed to in-person) and adapting the nonverbal intelligence test used. All other aspects of the study mirror those by Wiseheart et al. Results indicate that the bilinguals exhibited better cognitive flexibility in task switching, as evidenced by a reduced global switch cost compared with monolinguals. In contrast, mixed evidence was found for local switch costs. Findings mirror those reported by Wiseheart et al. and suggest that by employing comparable task-switch paradigms and recruiting samples matched on several key variables, including age, gender, variety of languages spoken, and use of English, bilingualism does seem to confer broader executive function advantages. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical implications to inform future replication studies and advance the bilingual advantage in the switching debate.

The Effect of Personality Traits of Healthcare Worker Candidates on their Attitudes Towards the Elderly

Background:: It is known that attitudes towards the elderly are an important variable affecting healthcare services. Considering the increasing trends of the population over 65 years in countries, it is important to determine the attitudes of future healthcare workers towards the elderly and to prepare them to serve in the health sector with activities that will lead to positive changes. In this direction, it is important to determine the effect of personality traits of prospective healthcare workers on their attitudes toward the elderly Methods:: The research was conducted using the “relational survey model”. The study was conducted with 581 prospective healthcare workers. Personal Information Form, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Kogan's Scale of Attitudes towards the Elderly were used as data collection tools. Data were obtained and analyzed using the online data collection method. Results:: According to the results of the study, it was found that the attitudes of students who were healthcare candidates for older adults were generally positive ( = 63.46±13.42). While there was a positive yet moderate and statistically significant correlation between attitudes towards the elderly and scores on the Extraversion subscale (r= 0.634, p<0.01) and a negative yet moderate and statistically significant correlation with scores on the Neuroticism (r= -0.568, p<0.01) and Psychoticism (r= -0.602, p<0.01) subscales. The personality traits extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism explained 58.6% of the attitude towards the elderly. According to the regression results, extraversion (β= 0.358; p<0.001) positively affected attitudes towards the elderly, whereas neuroticism (β= -0.310; p<0.001) and psychoticism (β= -0.307; p<0.001) negatively affected attitudes towards the elderly. Conclusions:: Given the important role of healthcare professionals in improving the care and quality of life of the elderly, it is necessary to develop strategies to improve the attitudes of future healthcare professionals towards the elderly. Consideration of personality traits in determining these strategies may contribute to the development of effective and personalized approaches.

Viral Transmission? A Longitudinal Study of Media Use and Its Relation to Mental Strain During the First 2 Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In light of the dynamic COVID-19 pandemic, the exposure to pandemic-related media coverage may change over time and may be particularly relevant due to associations with psychopathological symptoms. The aims of the present study were to examine changes in media consumption over time and to analyze its prospective associations with psychological strain. The study uses a longitudinal observational design with ten periods of online data collection from March 2020 to April 2022 in an adult convenience sample (N = 8337) of the general population in Germany. Our data revealed that the frequency and duration of pandemic-related media exposure as well as their subjective critical evaluation showed the highest levels at the beginning of the pandemic and peaked again in autumn 2020 and spring 2021. The primarily used media formats changed only slightly over time. The amount of media exposure at baseline was associated with more impairing pandemic-related anxiety 1month, 1year, and 2years later. Our results hint to potentially problematical and long-lasting associations of pandemic-related media consumption with mental strain. Our findings could serve as an orientation for recommendations, further research, and adequate interventions for a responsible dealing with media coverage. The authors have pre-registered this research at clinicaltrials.gov without an analysis plan; retrievable at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04331106 .

BEYOND REACTIONARY: SAGE PRACTICES FOR INTENTIONAL REFLEXIVITY IN ONLINE QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION

Introduction/Frame: Recent pandemic responsiveness has prompted increased online qualitative data collection. Few researchers have offered detailed discussions reflecting on how and/or why they maintained or adjusted in-person data collection techniques for online shifts. This paper pulled on lived experiences from researchers who reflected upon their online data collection practices, galvanized by evidence from peer-reviewed research. Research Question/Objectives: The following research questions guided this project: (1) How did qualitative data collection change when research rapidly shifted online? (2) What were essential elements to consider from in-person to online qualitative data collection practices? Goals and Methods: The goal was to inform qualitative researchers of key concepts to consider in adjusting to online data collection based on a fusion of the literature alongside professional experiences. This applied methodological paper utilized field notebooks and notes from research discussion groups during the transition to online data collection to examine considerations toward responsively revising data collection procedures aligned to online contexts. Results: Our investigation identified eight essential Successfully Applied, Grounded-in-Experience (SAGE) practices to consider in reconceptualizing data collection approaches for online contexts: (1) (re)examining online data collection differences in proximity and amplification of facial-emphasis communication, (2) strengthening awareness of truncated corporal visuality in online contexts, (3) increasing fluency and agility with digital tools, (4) increasing mindfulness of temporal need for visual data over audio-only data, (5) increasing research-oriented professionalism to counterbalance casual social or classroom-styled video chat practices, (6) enhancing researcher reflexivity regarding transcription and field notes, (7) maintaining procedural flexibility and balance regarding potential hybrid data collection, and (8) increasing temporal accessibility vis-à-vis boundaries. Final Considerations: Building from reactionary experiences and guidance during the emergency transition to online data collection modes and approaches, there is a need to reflexively reconceptualize data collection for online contexts.

American Association of Heart failure nurses’ knowledge, barriers and facilitators in conducting research

BackgroundTo provide high-quality patient care, heart failure (HF) nurses must comprehend/use best evidence; however, HF nurses’ ability to do so are unknown. ObjectivesTo describe HF nurses’ research interest/involvement, confidence, facilitators/motivators, and barriers to lead/collaborate in research studies. MethodsA descriptive design with convenience sampling and online data collection (Qualtrics) were used with American Association of HF Nurses members. Recruited/included nurses (n = 145) needed to be of any educational level and currently practicing in any practice setting in the United States. A 30-item, adapted instrument assessed research interest (one-question), involvement (two-questions), confidence (two-questions), facilitators (one-question), motivators (three-questions), and barriers (21-questions). ResultsSubjects (n = 145) were Caucasian (n = 124, 86.1 %) females (n = 137, 96.5 %) with an average age of 52.5 ± 10.38 years and 26.90±12.06 years of nursing experience. Nurses were interested in conducting nursing research (7.78/10±2.37) but involvement was low. Most frequently (n = 73, 50.3 %) nurses served as principal/co-investigators. Confidence with research participation was moderate (70.28/100±26.92) and in their ability to understand/apply research findings were low (21.68/100±80.07). The most frequently reported facilitator was the ability to control their own schedule/work (n = 30, 20.7 %) and the strongest motivator (n = 107, 73.8 %) was the perception presenting nursing research/EBP impacts HF care. The greatest reported barrier was the authority to seek research funding (2.39/5 ± 1.14). Nursing experience (p=.034), interest in participating in nursing research (p=.01), and how much presenting nursing research/EBP impacted one's performance review (p<.001) added to the prediction (R2=0.499, p<.001). ConclusionsThe gained knowledge may promote development of innovative programs and educational opportunities to increase HF nurses’ research activities.

Effect of social media influencers on brand preferences through trust: Moderating role of emotional attachment

Social media influencers have gained immense attention in recent times due to increased use in the cosmetics industry. Trust and emotional attachment play a vital role between influencers and followers. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of social media influencers’ characteristics on predicting intention to buy the recommended beauty brands through trust and a moderating role of emotional attachment with influencers. A sample size of 342 respondents from Pakistan was used to empirically test the hypothesized relationships. The respondents were social media users who follow renowned celebrities on various social media platforms and buy beauty products based on their recommendations. Thus, a purposive sampling technique was employed for data collection using online and in-person data collection methods. Quantitative techniques of regression and process models were used for data analysis. The findings show that characteristics of social media influencers, such as credibility and trustworthiness, have a significant positive impact (β = 0.521, p &amp;amp;lt; .05) on the intention to buy cosmetic products from a particular brand. Likewise, emotional attachment between influencers and followers strengthens the effect on willingness to buy an endorsed brand approving moderation (β = 0.584, p &amp;amp;lt; .05). Trust is also an important mediator as it plays a central role between characteristics of social media influencers and intention to buy products (β = 0.411, p &amp;amp;lt; .05). This study discussed the implications and future research directions while incorporating research limitations.&amp;amp;nbsp; Acknowledgment The authors extend their appreciation to the deanship of scientific research at King Khalid University for funding this work through a large group research project under grant number (RGP. 2/554/45).

Relationship Between Gratitude and Sleep Quality among Young Adults

This study investigates the relationship between gratitude and sleep quality among young adults. The objective is to understand gender differences between gratitude and sleep quality. however, there is less research that provides evidence that gratitude affects sleep quality among female and male young adults. To address this, the study aims to compare gratitude and sleep quality among male and female young adults. A correlational study with a sample (N=124) of female(N=62) and male young adults (N=62) was used. To assess gratitude and sleep quality among male and female young adults Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6) Pittsburgh sleep quality respectively. Online and offline responses were taken, and online data collection was done using Google Forms while offline data collection was collected from universities, institutes workplace settings. Statistical analysis revealed a moderate correlation between sleep quality and gratitude among female adults. thus, to some extent, gratitude increases young adults' sleep quality. Keywords: dispositional gratitude, sleep quality, male young adults, female young adults

What Huntington's Disease Patients Say About Their Illness: An Online Direct-to-Participant Pilot Study.

Direct-to-participant online reporting facilitates the conduct of clinical research by increasing access and clinically meaningful patient engagement. We assessed feasibility of online data collection from adults with diagnosed Huntington's disease (HD) who directly reported their problems and impact in their own words. Data were collected online from consenting United States residents who self-identified as 1) having been diagnosed with Huntington's disease, 2) able to ambulate independently, and 3) self-sufficient for most daily needs. Data for this pilot study were collected using the Huntington Study Group myHDstory online research platform. The Huntington Disease Patient Report of Problems (HD-PROP), an open-ended questionnaire, was used to capture verbatim bothersome problems and functional impact. Natural language processing, human-in-the-loop curation of verbatim reports involving clinical and experience experts, and machine learning classified verbatim-reports into clinically meaningful symptoms. All 8 questionnaires in the online pilot study were completed by 345 participants who were 60.9% men, 34.5±9.9 (mean±SD) years old, and 9.5±8.4 years since HD diagnosis. Racial self-identification was 46.4% Caucasian, 28.7% African American, 15.4% American Indian/Alaska Native, and 9.5% other. Accuracy of verbatim classification was 99%. Non-motor problems were the most frequently reported symptoms; depression and cognitive impairment were the most common. Online research participation was feasible for a diverse cohort of adults who self-reported an HD diagnosis and predominantly non-motor symptoms related to mood and cognition. Online research tools can help inform what bothers HD patients, identify clinically meaningful outcomes, and facilitate participation by diverse and under-represented populations.

Self-administration of medicines in secondary schools and colleges by students living with medical conditions: content analysis of school medicine policies in England

Abstract Introduction Every school in England is required to have a policy to support students with a medical condition under statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education.[1] The guidance promotes self-administration of medicines where possible, supervised by an adult. Transition from paediatric to adult healthcare during adolescence should be a process of gradually transferring control and responsibility from parents and other responsible adults to the young person taking the medicine. There are several barriers that might prevent autonomy, but effective self-management of long-term conditions at school is essential for wellbeing and learning.[2] Aim To explore secondary school/college medicine policies displayed online for content regarding the self-administration of medicines by students. Methods This was a group project involving six MPharm students. Each student was assigned one or two of the nine regions of England to explore, covering all regions, and they used search engines to find school websites with accessible health/medicine policies. The group employed purposive sampling within their Region to achieve a diverse sample of schools (e.g. nursery age to college; urban and suburban; public and private/fee-paying). An online data collection form was developed by the group to facilitate consistent, directed content analysis of school health/medicine policies (quantitative and qualitative). The topics reflected issues of interest from their literature review e.g. which medicines were mentioned by name in the policy, and arrangements for bringing long-term medicines to school. One topic within the form was to search for content relating to self-administration of medicines. For this abstract, within the wider study, the policies were subjected to directed content analysis to find any statements relating to self-administration. Results The students analysed 50 school policies across England (3 East Midlands; 1 East of England; 8 London; 7 North East; 8 North West; 10 South East; 4 South West; 4 West Midlands; 5 Yorkshire &amp; Humber). Eighteen of the 25 secondary school/college policies included statements about self-administration of medicines. Many (n=13) were comprehensive, stating that young people with medical conditions should assume complete responsibility under parental supervision. Others (n=4) specified partial self-administration for diabetes, asthma or severe allergies. The remaining school, however, specified that their students could not keep or carry any essential medicines, apart from salbutamol inhalers. Conclusion Most schools have adopted a positive approach to self-administration of medicines consistent with the recommendations of statutory guidance. There is, however, some variation in this approach and a minority of schools that do not promote self-medication and thus still prefer to keep medication stored away from the student. This study highlights a context not commonly studied in pharmacy practice, which is a strength, but has a limitation of a small sample that might not reflect the whole situation in England. Another limitation is possible omission of information by the student researchers, where independent validation by another person would be ideal but not practical in the scope of the short-term study. Pharmacists are well-placed to offer support to schools, and to be a resource for teachers, students and families, and this topic merits further exploration.

Memorable tourism experience of heritage-local food on tourist behavior: Mediating role of destination image and satisfaction

The primary purpose of this research is to find out how memorable tourism experiences influence revisit intention and recommendation intention of tourists who have visited to enjoy historical tourism and taste Rajamangsa local cuisine in Kebondalem Kidul Cultural Tourism Village, with destination image and satisfaction as mediating factors. This research uses a quantitative and descriptive-analytical approach, using a 5-point Likert scale for measurement. Non-probability sampling, specifically judgment sampling, was used to collect primary data. The sample consisted of 245 tourist respondents who had visited to enjoy historical tourism and taste Rajamangsa local cuisine in Kebondalem Kidul Cultural Tourism Village. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS 3.2.9 was used as the analysis tool. The findings of this study indicate that memorable tourism experiences directly influence destination image, travel satisfaction, local food tasting, and revisit intention when visiting Kebondalem Kidul Cultural Tourism Village. In addition, destination image travel satisfaction and local food tasting partially mediate between memorable tourism experiences and revisit intention and fully mediate between memorable tourism experiences and recommendation intention of tourists in cultural tourism destinations. This research highlights the positive impact of memorable tourism experiences on revisit intentions, destination perceptions, and traveller satisfaction. The practical implications are significant for tourism management in increasing satisfaction and building a positive destination image. However, this study has limitations regarding location coverage and online data collection methods. Future research must consider geographic variation, data collection methods, and other factors influencing tourism experiences.

Willingness to Purchase Co-Branded Products: Gender and Age Differences

This study explores the impact of co-branding on consumers’ purchase intention (PI), focusing on the 2023 trend of joint branding in the milk tea industry. The research adopts a questionnaire to analyze factors influencing PI, with a specific emphasis on gender and age differences. Previous research investigated at how joint branding affected consumption, examining factors such as the connection between perceived risk, perceived value, and popularity. The study reveals a noteworthy positive correlation between the perceived value and the participation of opinion leaders, which can positively influence consumers and lower their perceived risk. The study also looks at age and gender variations in co-brand product willingness to buy. Women participate in joint branding activities at a higher rate than men, which suggests that they are more willing. Age-wise, teens have a greater preference for milk tea, but older people participate in joint branding activities at a higher rate. The results imply that consumer willingness to purchase co-branded goods is strongly influenced by the cultural and logo images of those products. This study suggests that co-branded products' cultural and logo images significantly impact consumers’ PI. The author suggests increasing the number of participants and combining offline and online data collection techniques in order to improve the calibre of the research. As a result, the study clarifies the intricate dynamics influencing consumer decisions in the changing co-branded product market.

‘But why is a Ghanaian studying Liberia?’ Leveraging positionality for online data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic

This paper explores the significance of my positionality as a Ghanaian interested in a Liberian identity question and examines how it influenced the dialogical process of research design and online data collection. Emphasising the fluidity of the insider/outsider binary, the study unveils its potential to cultivate positive online interview experiences, augmenting the overall depth and quality of interview data. Notably, my dual status as an outsider, owing to Ghanaian nationality and pandemic-induced physical distance, and as an insider, being a racialised Black African like some participants, significantly influenced unique relationships with study participants, facilitating access and contributing to an enriched data collection experience.

Voices from the algorithm: Large language models in social research

Research on energy and society often relies on online data collection. In particular, there has been an increase in the use of online techniques such as video software for qualitative research since the pandemic. We suggest that the rapid growth in generative AI and Large Language Models such as Chat-GPT mean that they may be utilised by research participants; particularly in research where participants may be less knowledgeable about the topic under discussion, such as emerging energy technologies. Drawing on examples from recent research, we argue that social scientists need to be cautious in assuming that the voices of our participants are genuinely theirs.

The Burden for High-Quality Online Data Collection Lies With Researchers, Not Recruitment Platforms

A recent article in Perspectives on Psychological Science (Webb & Tangney, 2022) reported a study in which just 2.6% of participants recruited on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) were deemed “valid.” The authors highlighted some well-established limitations of MTurk, but their central claims—that MTurk is “too good to be true” and that it captured “only 14 human beings . [out of] N = 529”—are radically misleading, yet have been repeated widely. This commentary aims to (a) correct the record (i.e., by showing that Webb and Tangney’s approach to data collection led to unusually low data quality) and (b) offer a shift in perspective for running high-quality studies online. Negative attitudes toward MTurk sometimes reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of what the platform offers and how it should be used in research. Beyond pointing to research that details strategies for effective design and recruitment on MTurk, we stress that MTurk is not suitable for every study. Effective use requires specific expertise and design considerations. Like all tools used in research—from advanced hardware to specialist software—the tool itself places constraints on what one should use it for. Ultimately, high-quality data is the responsibility of the researcher, not the crowdsourcing platform.

Assessment of sexual and body esteem in postpartum women with or without perineal laceration: a cross-sectional study with cultural translation and validation of the Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale.

We aimed to translate and determine cultural validity of the Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale (VSBE) for Brazilian Portuguese language in postpartum women who underwent vaginal delivery with or without perineal laceration and cesarean section. A cross-sectional study conducted virtually, with online data collection through a survey with 234 postpartum women of 975 that were invited. Clinical, sociodemographic, and psychometric variables from the VSBE questionnaire were analyzed (content validity index, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct/structural and discriminant validity). Multivariate analysis was performed to explore associated factors with the presence of perineal laceration. One-hundred fifty-eight women experienced vaginal delivery, of which 24.79% had an intact perineum, 33.33% had perineal laceration, and 9.4% underwent episiotomy; and 76 participants had cesarean sections. Women with perineal laceration were older, presented dyspareunia and previous surgeries than women without perineal laceration (p<0.05). For VSBE, a high internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.7) was observed, but it did not correlate with Body Attractiveness Questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index; however, it correlated with the presence of women sutured for perineal laceration. Moreover, VSBE presented good structural validity with two loading factors after exploratory factor analysis. VSBE also demonstrated discriminant validity between the presence or absence of perineal laceration. The presence of urinary incontinence (UI) (OR=2.716[1.015-4.667];p=0.046) and a higher VSBE total score (OR=1.056[1.037-1.075];p<0.001) were the only factors associated with perineal laceration. Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale demonstrated appropriate translation and good internal consistency, discriminant/construct validity and reliability. Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale total score and presence of UI were associated with women that underwent perineal laceration.

Outside the field, inside the home: lessons learned from adapting qualitative research strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThis collaborative paper presents three case studies on four scholars' experiences with remote data collection. The authors highlight the challenges and strengths of online qualitative research across three disparate projects: an interdisciplinary exploration of matrilineal heritage, an examination of Irish women's sexual identity and an investigation of dress practices among Tz'utujil-Maya.Design/methodology/approachQualitative researchers traditionally go into the field to explore and understand social phenomena. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, while people faced the daily realities of a worldwide crisis from within their homes, remote data collection became a necessary strategy to pursue knowledge. As a result, researchers adapted to unknowns regarding recruiting, scheduling, technology, interviewing and analysis.FindingsParticipant and researcher experiences during the adaptation to remote interviewing yielded important lessons on research strategies.Originality/valueOutcomes from these studies highlight the potential value of online data collection alongside the necessity for flexibility in designing and conducting qualitative research.

Are we practising what we preach and are we all singing from the same hymn sheet? An exploration of teaching in paediatric caries management across UK dental schools.

The evidence underpinning caries management for children has progressed dramatically over the past 20 years. Anecdotally, this is not reflected in the teaching provided to undergraduate dental students, with the ongoing teaching of outdated methods within some dental schools. To capture the current undergraduate teaching provision and clinical treatment experience requirement relative to caries management in paediatric dentistry in UK dental schools. Cross-sectional analysis of current teaching methods on paediatric caries management was obtained using a piloted online data collection form. Question content included current caries teaching methods, assessment of student exposure and competence. The results were analysed descriptively. Of the 16 UK dental schools, 14 participated. Discrepancy in teaching content was apparent. Many schools (n = 9) taught biological caries management through therapeutic fissure sealants, yet this was not reflected in assessment and clinical requirements. Some schools (n = 4) taught amalgam placement in children, and most (n = 12) operatively taught treatments that would no longer be routinely provided in general dental practice in the UK, including primary tooth pulpotomy. There is substantial variation in the paediatric caries management techniques that are taught across UK dental schools, demonstrating a need for a national consensus to address these disparities.