Qualitative Remote Data Collection Guidance 2024
Synopsis
In 2020, the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced qualitative health and social care researchers to rapidly convert to remote methods of data collection (i.e. methods of collecting research data when the researcher and participant are not together in the same space). In a post-COVID-19 research landscape, use of remote qualitative methods is now a choice not a necessity.
This guidance was developed to support researchers who are making decisions between the use of remote or face-to-face methods.
Methods
The guidance was developed by a team of experienced health and social care researchers through two literature reviews (a scoping review and a realist review), interviews with 25 researchers and research participants and a consensus conference (attended by 27 research stakeholders) where the guidance was ratified. A diverse public reference group (PRG) with eight members informed all stages of the research process and guidance production.
Conclusions
The literature broadly demonstrates the equivalence of remotely collected qualitative data vis-à-vis face-toface, both in terms of data quality and data depth (Boardman et al, 2022). Additionally, the use of remote methods can make qualitative research less resource intensive, with reduced environmental harms (travel). It can also be more convenient for participants and researchers alike and can facilitate access to more diverse groups of geographically dispersed participants, increasing diversity and inclusivity in health and social care research.
Care must be taken, however, to ensure that remote methods are not exclusionary and to explore, before data collection commences, which voices are silenced by their use. Identifying participants’ needs, typical communication channels, abilities and technology access in ways that take account of their socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and local contexts are pivotal to this endeavour. Researchers should support participants to harness the autonomy that remote methods can bring, so that they may directly shape the research encounter/s to suit their circumstances and needs. However, it is important to note that this might include the decision to defer entirely to face-to-face methods, or to offer face-to-face as an adjunct method within a hybrid remote/face-to-face design.
More information on the Team and the Project can be found on the Project Webpages.
