How to adapt your research to the ‘New Normal?’
1. Rethink research goals and methods within the context of changing user
needs.
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Digitization of research
(from in-person to video conference)
How does the pandemic change the behaviour and norms of ‘user’?
“This is not the time to stop researching because we need to understand
people, their interactions with products and services, and what they’re going
through more than ever.” — Katherine McEachern, UX researcher at Ipsos
Revisiting the Research Agenda
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Looking at the research proposals which are workable given the current
national health crisis
- Priority projects (product development, patenting, commercialization, flexible
learning, policy making, digital markets, shift to e-commerce, ICT, gender and
development, public health, public mobility and sustainability, biodiversity,
DRRM, etc.
2. Go for an INCLUSIVE research
3. Kindness and flexibility are the keys!
Flexibility when scheduling.
A tech set up as easy and streamlined as possible for
participants.
Reassuring and comforting language.
Extra time for getting to know each participant.
Engaging and inspiring tasks.
4. Show empathy.
Collecting Data at the Time of Pandemic
Pressing question for the last five years:
How to become effective and ethical with regards to data collection and
analysis?
Short-term and long-term shift for data collection
a. Lean design
Due to the inability to conduct research face-to-face during the pandemic, we need to
CONDENSE AND SIMPLIFY what questions to ask that matters to our respondents.
b. From face-to-face to remote technologies
Sample-based probability surveys
Phone vs. cell-phone effects
Web-based surveys
Online forms and video conferencing
Ethical Considerations in Internet Research
Default of identifiability – issues on privacy and confidentiality
Anonymizing interview data
preserve the richness of the interview material wherever possible while protecting
participants
Data Privacy Act RA 10173
Organizations who deal with your personal details, whereabouts, and preferences are
dutybound to observe and respect your data privacy rights.
personal data is treated almost literally in the same way as your own personal property.
Data collected from parties other than the data subject for purpose of research shall be
allowed when the personal data is publicly available, or has the consent of the data subject for
purpose of research.
This right to data portability does not apply if the processed personal data are used only for
scientific and statistical research, provided that no activities are carried out and no decisions
are taken regarding the data subject.
However, personal data shall be held under strict confidentiality and shall be used only for the
declared purpose.
Informed Consent is important.
Virtual Surveys
Themes:
a. Social and Gender Assessments
b. Household surveys
c. Public consultations
d. Monitoring during implementation
e. Tracking project indicators
f. Post project evaluation
Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI)
An interviewer communicates with respondents remotely and enters their responses in a
computerized questionnaire.
Computer-assisted web interviews (CAWI)
Data is collected via online surveys through a web interface. Respondents answer the
questions on their own computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI)
Interviewers collect data using tablets or mobile phones; data is transferred to a survey
management website.
Social media surveys
Data is collected through platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and in the PRC,
WeChat.
Text message survey
Responders receive polls, voting opportunities, or links to survey sites through text
messages (SMS).
Mobile applications
Responders download a custom-made application and are provided with log-in credentials to
access the survey.
Mixed method virtual survey
Data is collected using a variety of virtual survey methods or a combination of virtual and
face-to-face methods.
What are the virtual survey’s
advantages over conventional
methods?
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Recruitment and replacement of survey participants is efficient and effective.
Web-based control platforms enable immediate data export and real-time data
availability as the survey is underway.
On-the-spot data input increases data quality. Data gaps or unclear statements can
be identified and clarified immediately with respondents.
Virtual surveys can capture location through a global positioning system (GPS), time
stamps, and geographic information system (GIS)-integrated data.
Virtual surveys allow for a system of records accessible and referenceable
throughout the project life and enable data analytics for progress monitoring.
They are cheaper, reduce or eliminate travel and extensive data entry costs, and can
be conducted in less time than conventional ones.
They also reduce CO2 emissions linked to travel and lessen the use of paper and
printed materials.
What are its disadvantages?
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People without mobile phones, with poor mobile network access, or who have low digital
literacy may be left out in virtual surveys leading to sampling bias.
It is difficult to provide incentives for respondents and this can reduce interest.
Participants can incur costs for mobile or internet access charges when answering the
survey or downloading survey forms or apps.