The list of resources, a key part of the toolkit, was last updated in May 2021.

In this live repository, we bring together experiences of, and resources for, collecting remote primary data in a Covid-19 era. These materials come from books, journal articles, newspaper articles, blogs and webpages, and include experiences of doing participatory, qualitative and quantitative research, through to ethical issues that may be faced and how to deal with them. This resource will be updated, and will draw on other organisations compiling similar lists. If you know of any useful resources, please send to Fiona Samuels at: [email protected]

Perspectives on doing remote participatory research

AuthorAID (2020) ‘The perks of remote documentation’. Blog. AuthorAID (www.authoraid.info/en/news/details/1385/).

Freeman, M., White, S. and Majorin, F. (n.d.) ‘Summary report on general principles for monitoring and evaluating Covid-19 prevention projects’. Covid-19 HygieneHub (https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4220200-summary-report-on-general-principles-for-monitoring-and-evaluating-covid-19-prevention-projects).

Glassman, M. (2019) ‘The internet as a context for participatory action research’ Education and Information Technologies 1–21. [Available via ResearchGate.]

Howard, J. and Roberts, T. (2020) ‘Covid-19 and reflections for participatory research’. Blog. IDS (www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/covid-19-reflections-for-participatory-research/).

Includovate (2020) ‘Dr. Bikketi on adapting to COVID-19 in Kenya’. Interview blog. Includovate (www.includovate.com/dr-bikketi-on-adapting-to-covid-19-in-kenya/).

Jones, N., Gebeyehu, Y., Gezahegne, K., et al. (2020) ‘Exploring adolescents' experiences and priorities in Ethiopia under covid-19’. Policy Brief. London: GAGE/ODI (www.gage.odi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GAGE-Covid-19-Ethiopia-Young...).

Lupton, D. (ed.) (2020) ‘Doing fieldwork in a pandemic’. Crowd-sourced document (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1clGjGABB2h2qbduTgfqribHmog9B6P0NvMgV...).

NVivo (2020) ‘On-demand webinar: COVID-19 and doing virtual fieldwork’. Hosted by Deborah Lupton, supported by NVivo (https://go.nvivobyqsr.com/Covid).

Russonello, G. and Lyall, S. (2020) ‘Surprising poll results: people are now happy to pick up the phone’. New York Times, 17 April (www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/us/politics/polling-coronavirus.html).

Tamí-Maury, I., Brown, L., Lapham, H. and Chang, S. (2017) ‘Community-based participatory research through virtual communities’ Journal of Communication in Healthcare 10(3): 188–194.

Thapaliya, T., Olsson, G., Jenkins, R., et al. (2021) ‘How to co-create research during a global pandemic’. Blog. UNICEF, Evidence for Action (https://blogs.unicef.org/evidence-for-action/how-to-co-create-research-during-a-global-pandemic/).

The Freedom Fund (2020) ‘On the frontlines of vulnerability: research in the time of the pandemic’. Webinar. The Freedom Fund (https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/6JB5Jez8qjo3S9LDtQSDV_crW9Xrf6ys0nMX-qF...).

Tilford, J. (2020) ‘Young lives at work: a revised approach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’. Blog. Young Lives, Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford (www.younglives.org.uk/content/young-lives-work-revised-approach-response...).

Various (2020) ‘Is it possible to do participatory research in a pandemic?’ Second in Webinar Series ‘Researching poverty in a pandemic: thinking through key issues and challenges’ (www.youtube.com/embed/GmAQgtJBJ_A).

Practical guidance on secondary and remote data collection

Ali, Z., Azlor del Valle, L., EDI Global et al. (2020) ‘Challenges of remote surveying during COVID-19’. Blog (Part 1/2). Results for Development (https://r4d.org/blog/remote-surveying-during-covid-19-challenges/).

Ali, Z., Azlor del Valle, L., Fletcher, E. et al. (2020) ‘Remote surveying during COVID-19’. Blog (Part 2/2). EDI Global (www.edi-global.com/remote-surveying-during-covid-19-part-2-of-2/).

Al Masri, A. and Masannat, M. (2020) ‘Data collection in Covid-19 restrictions’. Blog. GAGE/ODI (www.gage.odi.org/multimedia/data-collection-in-covid-19-restrictions/).

Archibald, M., Ambagtsheer, R.C., Casey, M.G. and Lawless, M. (2019) ‘Using Zoom videoconferencing for qualitative data collection: perceptions and experiences of researchers and participants’ International Journal of Qualitative Methods 18 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919874596).

Battersby, J. (2021) ‘Pandemic praxis: adapting research methods within Covid-19 constraints’. Blog. African Centre for Cities (www.africancentreforcities.net/pandemic-praxis-adapting-research-methods-within-covid-19-constraints/).

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (2021) ‘“Paradox” of Korail slum during COVID-19: Ethnography of Governance from Below’. Webinar. BIGD (www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMLyopEKc4A&feature=youtu.be).

Braun, V., Clarke, V. & Gray, D. (eds) (2017) Collecting qualitative data: a practical guide to textual, media and virtual techniques. Cambridge University Press. [Includes coverage of ethical issues.]

Buelo, A., Kirk, A. and Jepson, R. (2020) ‘A novel research method for workshops and co-production of knowledge: using a secret Facebook group’. Research Square (www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-14643/v1).

Burke, T. and Patching, J. (2021) ‘Mobile methods: altering research data collection methods during Covid-19 and the unexpected benefits’. Collegian, 28(1), 143–144 (www.collegianjournal.com/article/S1322-7696(20)30105-0/fulltext).

Busara (2020) ‘Data collection in times of Covid-19’. Webpage. Busara (www.busaracenter.org/data-collection-in-times-of-covid-19).  

Busara (2020) ‘Guide to conducting online workshops & other trainings’. Webpage. Busara (www.busaracenter.org/guide-to-conducting-online-workshops-other-trainings). 

Chambers, R. (2020) ‘Rapid action learning and COVID-19’. The Sanitation Learning Hub (https://sanitationlearninghub.org/2020/10/06/rapid-action-learning-for-covid-19/). 

Chaudhuri, T. (2020) ‘Collecting data during COVID-19: how do we address data quality?’. Blog (https://medium.com/@trishachaudhuri/collecting-data-during-covid-19-477d...).

Cheema, A., Khan, S. and Khan Mohmand, S. (2021) ‘Lessons for conducting phone-based surveys during Covid-19 and beyond’. Blog. Institute of Development Studies (IDS) (www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/lessons-for-conducting-phone-based-surveys-during-covid-19-and-beyond/).

Cheney, C. (2020) ‘Will these 3 gender data trends outlast the pandemic?’ Devex (www.devex.com/news/will-these-3-gender-data-trends-outlast-the-pandemic-98465).

COFEM – The Coalition of Feminists for Social Change (2020) ‘Applying feminist principles to GBV data collection: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic’. Roundtable Discussion (Webinar), 7 December 2020. COFEM, in collaboration with the SVRI (https://cofemsocialchange.org/initiatives-events/cofem-webinars/).

Covid-19 HygieneHub (n.d.) ‘Covid-19 HygieneHub: fighting Covid-19 through hygiene’. Webpage (https://hygienehub.info/en/covid-19).

Deakin, H. and Wakefield, K. (2014) ‘Skype interviewing: reflections of two PhD researchers’ Qualitative Research 14(5): 603–616 (https://doi.org/10.1177/146879411348812). [Also relevant for Zoom, WhatsApp, etc.]

Drabble, L., Trocki, K., Salcedo, B., et al. (2016) ‘Conducting qualitative interviews by telephone: lessons learned from a study of alcohol use among sexual minority and heterosexual women’ Qualitative Social Work 15(1): 118–133 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325015585613).

Elliott, R., Berman, A. and Lansell, S. (2020) ‘Opinion: how to adapt to remote research methods in rapidly changing circumstances’. Opinion/Blog. Devex (www.devex.com/news/sponsored/opinion-how-to-adapt-to-remote-research-methods-in-rapidly-changing-circumstances-98241).

Elrha (2020) ‘SOPS for data collection during Covid-19’. Webpage. Elrha (www.elrha.org/researchdatabase/sops-for-data-collection-during-covid-19/).

Etang, A. and Himelein, K. (2020) ‘Monitoring the ebola crisis using mobile phone surveys’. In J. Hoogeveen and U. Pape (eds) Data collection in fragile states. Palgrave Macmillan. (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25120-8_2).

Fielding, N.G., Lee, R.M. and Blank, G. (eds) (2016) The SAGE handbook of online research methods, 2nd edn. London: Sage.

Gender and Covid-19 (2020) ‘Data collection and COVID-19: What’s gender got to do with it?’. Webpage. Gender and Covid-19 (www.genderandcovid-19.org/editorial/data-collection-gender-covid-19-coronavirus-research/).

Ghosh, B. (2020) ‘Digital ethnography during the Covid-19 pandemic’. Blog. University of Zurich, 20 December (www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/199780/1/DIGITALETHNOGRAPHYDURINGTHECOVID-19PANDEMIC.pdf).

Goldstein, M. and Kondylis, F. (2020) ‘Impact evaluations in the time of Covid-19, Part 1’. Blog. World Bank (https://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/impact-evaluations-time-covid-19-part-1).

Hanna, P. (2012) ‘Using internet technologies (such as Skype) as a research medium: a research note’ Qualitative Research 12(2): 239–242 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794111426607).

Hart, J. (2021) ‘Flexibility, generosity and community in the time of covid’. Blog. Digital Fieldwork, 25 January (http://sigla.georgetown.domains/digitalfieldwork/flexibility-generosity-and-community-in-the-time-of-covid/).  

Haux, T. (2020) ‘The rush to research COVID-19 risks compromising research integrity and impact’. Blog. London School of Economics (https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2020/10/02/the-rush-to-research-covid-19-risks-compromising-research-integrity-and-impact/).

Hawkins, K., Amegee, J. and Steege, R. (2020) ‘Remote research methods to use during the COVID-19 pandemic’. ARISE (www.ariseconsortium.org/remote-research-methods-to-use-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/). 

Heath, R., Mansuri, G., Rijkers, R., Hutchins Seitz, W. and Sharma, D. (2020) Measuring employment: experimental evidence from urban Ghana. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 9263. World Bank (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3616472&utm_content=...).

Herd, S. (2020) ‘Global tips for conducting remote focus groups during COVID-19'. Blog. Sutherland Labs (www.sutherlandlabs.com/blog/global-tips-for-conducting-remote-focus-groups-during-covid-19/). 

Hinson, L. et al. (2020) ‘Pivoting in the face of the unknown: five adaptations for effective phone-based data collection during COVID-19’. Blog. Pathfinder (www.pathfinder.org/five-adaptations-for-data-collection/).

Holt, A. (2010) ‘Using the telephone for narrative interviewing: a research note’ Qualitative Research 10(1): 113–121 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794109348686).

Howlett, M. (2021) ‘Looking at the ‘field’ through a Zoom lens: Methodological reflections on conducting online research during a global pandemic’. Qualitative Research. Sage Journals (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1468794120985691).

Hughes, S. and Velyvis, K. (2020) ‘Tips to quickly switch from face-to-face to home-based telephone interviewing’. Blog. Mathematica (www.mathematica.org/commentary/tips-to-quickly-switch-from-face-to-face-to-home-based-telephone-interviewing).

Hughes, S. with Velyvis, K. (2020) ‘Data collection during COVID-19: Tools and tips from the field’. Blog. Alnap/Mathematica (www.alnap.org/system/files/content/resource/files/annex/Mathematica%20-%20Data%20collection%20during%20COVID-19_tools%20and%20tips.pdf).

James, N. & Busher, H. (2006) ‘Credibility, authenticity and voice: dilemmas in online interviewing’ Qualitative Research 6(3): 403–420 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794106065010).

Jowett, A. (2015) ‘A case for using online discussion forums in critical psychological research’ Qualitative Research in Psychology 12(3): 287–297 (https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2015.1008906).

Jowett, A. (2020) 'Carrying out qualitative research under lockdown – Practical and ethical considerations'. LSE blog (https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2020/04/20/carrying-out-qualitative-research-under-lockdown-practical-and-ethical-considerations/). 

Jowett, A., Peel, E. and Shaw, R. (2011) ‘Online interviewing in psychology: reflections on the process’ Qualitative Research in Psychology 8(4): 354–369 (https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2010.500352).

Kimani, E. and Lanthorn, H. (2021) ‘Four challenges (and solutions) to conducting phone surveys in a refugee settlement: The feedback from enumerators who switched from in-person to phone surveys during COVID-19 provides valuable insights to strengthen phone surveys’. Blog. IDinsight Blog (https://medium.com/idinsight-blog/four-challenges-and-solutions-to-conducting-phone-surveys-in-a-refugee-settlement-6b0ed28d1500).

Kornbluh, M., Neal, J.W. and Ozer, E.J. (2016) ‘Scaling‐up youth‐led social justice efforts through an online school‐based social network’ American Journal of Community Psychology 57(3–4): 266–279 (https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12042).

Krause, P., Szekely, O., Bloom, M., et al. (2021) 'Covid-19 and fieldwork: challenges and solutions’ PS: Political Science & Politics, 1-6 (https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096520001754). 

Kretschmer, T., Schneider, E., Jechel, L. and Krämer, M. (2020) ‘The overload in Covid-19 resources – navigating the evidence jungle’. DEVAL – German Institute For Development Evaluation (www.deval.org/en/blogitem/covid-19-resources-navigating-the-evidence-jungle.html). 

Lahiri-Dutt, K. (2020) ‘Conducting feminist research during lockdown’. ANU (https://crawford.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/16862/conducting-feminist-research-during-lockdown). 

Lloyd, S. & Lorenz, L. (2020) ‘Can I do a photovoice project remotely? Yes, you can!’. Webpage. PhotovoiceWorldwide (www.photovoiceworldwide.com/blog/2020/03/30/can-i-do-a-photovoice-projec...).

Lo Iacono, V., Symonds, P. and Brown, D.H. (2016) ‘Skype as a tool for qualitative research interviews’ Sociological Research Online 21(2): 1–15 (https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.3952).

Magnani, N. and Magnani, M. (2020) 'Material methods for a rapid-response anthropology'. Special Section Article (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1469-8676.12813).

Majorin, F. and Watson, J. (n.d.) ‘Summary report on adapting hygiene project outcome measures for Covid-19 response’. Covid-19 HygieneHub (https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4154861-summary-report-on-adapting-hygiene-project-outcome-measures-for-covid-19-response).

Majorin, F., Thorseth, A.H., White, S., et al. (n.d.) ‘Summary report on remote quantitative and qualitative approaches for understanding Covid-19 related behaviours and perceptions’. Covid-19 HygieneHub (https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4151954-summary-report-on-remote-quantitative-and-qualitative-approaches-for-understanding-covid-19-related-behaviours-and-perceptions).

Majorin, F., Watson, J. and Tidwell, J.B. (n.d.) ‘Summary report on remote data collection’. Covid-19 HygieneHub (https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4165116-summary-report-on-remote-data-collection).

Marwick, A.E. (2014) ‘Ethnographic and qualitative research on Twitter’ in K. Weller, A. Bruns, C. Puschmann, et al. (eds) Twitter and society, 109–122. New York: Peter Lang (http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.433.6263&rep=re...).

Masefield, S.C., Megaw, A., Barlow, M., White, P.C.L., Altink, H. and Grugel, J. (2020) ‘Repurposing NGO data for better research outcomes: a scoping review of the use and secondary analysis of NGO data in health policy and systems research’ Health Research Policy and Systems 18: 63 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-020-00577-x).

Mitchell, R. (2021) ‘How to overcome the challenges of doing research during Covid-19’. Blog. IDS (www.ids.ac.uk/opinions/how-to-overcome-the-challenges-of-doing-research-during-covid19/).

Morgan, C. et al.  (2020) ‘Advice on oral history interviewing during the Covid-19 pandemic’. Oral History Society (www.ohs.org.uk/advice/covid-19/). 

Murray, L. (2012) ‘Online opportunities for mobile and visual research’ in C.N. Silva (ed.) Online research methods in urban and planning studies: design and outcomes. IGI-Global. [Email module coordinator for access.]

Naik, M. (2021) ‘Research in the Covid-19 Context: Adaptive Methods and Ethical Considerations’. Report. Women, Work, and the Gig Economy Consortium (www.justjobsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/WWGE-Research-in-the-Covid-19-Context.pdf).

ODI (2020) ‘Research during Covid-19: learning from practice’.  Video and podcast recordings of a webinar (www.odi.org/events/17110-research-during-covid-19-learning-field).

Peterman, A. (2021) ‘The art of indirect measures: asking about violence against women and children in remote surveys’. Blog. Center for Global Development (www.cgdev.org/blog/art-indirect-measures-asking-about-violence-against-women-and-children-remote-surveys).

Poynter, R. (ed.) (2010) The handbook of online and social media research: tools and techniques for market researchers. John Wiley & Sons.

Rana, B., Yoko Okura, Y., Neupane, S. and Svensson, J. (2020) ‘Carrying out research during lockdown: how to do remote surveys in rural communities’. Flood Resilience Portal (https://floodresilience.net/blogs/carrying-out-research-during-lockdown-how-to-do-remote-surveys-in-rural-communities).

Reed, A. and Bozsogi, B. (2021) ‘Getting to the source: the importance of field research. An academic and intellectual decline is inevitable without a post-pandemic revival of fieldwork’. Analysis and commentary. United States Institute for Peace (www.usip.org/publications/2021/04/getting-source-importance-field-research).

Roberts, S., Snee, H., Hine, C., et al. (eds) (2016) Digital methods for social science: an interdisciplinary guide to research innovation. Springer.

Rosenzweig, L.R., Bergquist, P., Hoffmann Pham, K., et al. (2020) ‘Survey sampling in the Global South using Facebook advertisements’. Preprint. SocArXivp Papers (https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/dka8f/). 

Sandri, E. (2020) ‘Ethics in evaluation and COVID-19: new practices in a changing world’. Blog. ITAD (www.itad.com/article/ethics-evaluation-covid-19-new-practices-changing-world/).

Santana, F.N., Hammond Wagner, C., Berlin Rubin, N., et al. (2021) ‘A path forward for qualitative research on sustainability in the Covid-19 pandemic.’ Note and comment. Sustainability Science (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11625-020-00894-8).

Singh, A. (2020) ‘Taking Busara online. Envisioning research in the new world’. Blog. Busara (https://medium.com/busara-center-blog/taking-busara-online-43606914a597).

Singh, R. (2020) ‘Challenges related to mental health disclosures that social science researchers face during the pandemic’. Blog. Young Lives (www.younglives.org.uk/content/challenges-related-mental-health-disclosures-social-science-researchers-face-during-pandemic).

Sloan, L. and Quan-Haase, A. (eds) (2017) The SAGE handbook of social media research methods. London: Sage.

Speyer, A. (2020) Remote survey toolkit: Prepare in response to COVID-19. 60 Decibels (https://60decibels.com/user/pages/03.Work/_remote_survey_toolkit/60_Deci...).

Stewart, K. & Williams, M. (2005) ‘Researching online populations: the use of online focus groups for social research’ Qualitative Research 5(4): 395–416 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794105056916).

Strachan, A.L. (2021) ‘The impact of Covid-19 on research methods and approaches’. Covid Collective (https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/20.500.12413/15962/Covid%20Collective%20Helpdesk%202%20The%20impact%20of%20Covid-19%20on%20research%20methods%20and%20approaches.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y ).

SVRI – Sexual Violence Research Initiative (2020) 'SVRI Knowledge Exchange: Pivoting to remote research on violence against women during COVID-19'. SVRI (www.svri.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2020-07-23/SVRI%20Knowledge%20Exchange%20-%20Research%20VAW%20COVID%20-%20Final.pdf).

TDR – Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (2021) ‘Research in the time of Covid-19’. Podcast. Global Health Matters, TDR (https://tdr.who.int/home/global-health-matters-podcast/research-in-the-time-of-covid-19).

Teti, M., Schatz, E. and Liebenberg, L. (2020) ‘Methods in the time of Covid -19: the vital role of qualitative inquiries’. Editorial. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, Vol 19. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1609406920920962).

Teye, J. and Kandilige, L. (2021) ‘Conducting surveys safely during a pandemic: perspectives from Ghana’. MIGNEX insight. MIGNEX (www.mignex.org/publications/conducting-surveys-safely-during-pandemic-perspectives-ghana).

The New Ethnographer (2021) ‘Conducting safe distanced research: a training workshop, April 6–9, 2021’. Workshop. The New Ethnographer (www.thenewethnographer.org/april-2021-workshop-store).

Turner, D. (2020) ‘Conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups online’. Quirkos blog (www.quirkos.com/blog/post/online-interviews-focus-groups-qualitative-research)

Undie, C.-C., Mathur, S., Haberland, N., Vieitez, I. and Pulerwitz, J. (2020) ‘Opportunities for SGBV data collection in the time of COVID-19: the value of implementation science’. Webpage. Sexual Violence Research Initiative, 26 June (https://svri.org/blog/opportunities-sgbv-data-collection-time-covid-19-v...).

United Nations Development Programme – UNDP (2018) WhatsApp surveying guide: lessons learnt from two qualitative WhatsAapp surveys in Lebanon. UNDP (https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/67580).

USAID (2020) ‘Guide for adopting remote monitoring approaches during Covid-19’. USAID (www.usaid.gov/digital-development/covid19-remote-monitoring-guide). 

Various (2020) ‘Resuming in-person data collection during COVID-19’. Webinar (www.youtube.com/watch?t=6s&v=E-N6xfBd8rc&app=desktop).

Vindrola-Padros, C. et al. (2020) ‘Carrying out rapid qualitative research during a pandemic: emerging lessons from COVID-19'. Qualitative Health Research 1–13 (https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320951526).

Von Engelhardt, J. and Jones, L. (2020) ‘Using mobile phone surveys to track resilience and post-disaster recovery: a how-to guide’. Toolkit. London: BRACED/ODI (www.odi.org/publications/16586-using-mobile-phone-surveys-track-resilien...).

Wells, C. (2020) ‘A new normal for data collection: using the power of community to tackle gender violence amid COVID-19'. IISD, SDG Knowledge Hub (http://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/a-new-normal-for-data-collection-using-the-power-of-community-to-tackle-gender-violence-amid-covid-19/). 

Young, J. (2020) ‘The COVID-19 crisis has confirmed that a strong knowledge system is key to a just, peaceful and sustainable world’. Blog. London School of Economics  (https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2020/10/09/the-covid-19-crisis-has-confirmed-that-a-strong-knowledge-system-is-key-to-a-just-peaceful-and-sustainable-world/). 

Ziegler, J. and Mason, P. (2020) ‘Adapting data collection and utilisation to a Covid-19 reality: monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches for adaptive management’. ODI Briefing Note (www.odi.org/publications/17352-adapting-data-collection-and-utilisation-covid-19-reality-monitoring-evaluation-and-learning).

Zillur Rahman, H., Matin, I. Banks, N. and Hulme, D. (2021). ‘Finding out fast about the impact of Covid-19: The need for policy-relevant methodological innovation’. World Development 140: 105380. Elsevier (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105380).

Ethical issues/guidance and quality concerns

Some of the references above mention these issues and concerns, but the references below focus primarily on them.

Ansoms, A. (2020) ‘Research in times of crisis: caring for researcher’s mental health in the Covid-19 era’. Essay. SSRC Items (https://items.ssrc.org/covid-19-and-the-social-sciences/social-research-...). [Unpicking the toll that working in crisis contexts can take on researchers, this lays out an institutional strategy for providing support through training, coaching and care.]

Backe, E.L. (2021) ‘Slow research in urgent times: Covid-19, gender-based violence and the ethics of crisis’. Blog. Digital Fieldwork, 25 January (http://sigla.georgetown.domains/digitalfieldwork/slow-research-in-urgent-times-covid-19-gender-based-violence-and-the-ethics-of-crisis/). 

Bhatia, A., Peterman, A. and Guedes, A. (2020) ‘Remote data collection on violence against children during COVID-19: a conversation with experts on research priorities, measurement and ethics (Part 2)’. Webpage. UNICEF (www.unicef-irc.org/article/2004-collecting-remote-data-on-violence-again...).

Bidhu (2020) ‘Mantras to data quality in telephonic surveys during COVID-19 crisis’. Blog. Medium (https://medium.com/@bidhuiips/mantras-to-data-quality-in-telephonic-surveys-during-covid-19-crisis-a558347aec6c).

British Psychological Society (2017) Ethics guidelines for internet-mediated research. INF206/04.2017. Leicester: BPS (www.bps.org.uk/publications/policy-and-guidelines/research-guidelines-po...).

Carayannis, T. and Bolin, A. (2020) ‘Research in insecure times and places: ethics of social research for emerging ecologies of insecurities’. Essay. SSRC Items (https://items.ssrc.org/covid-19-and-the-social-sciences/social-research-...). [Outlines the new valences of research in the pandemic era, from security challenges to new methodologies for gathering data remotely and the need to reflect on the changing roles of institutions.]

Chaudhuri, T. (2020) ‘Collecting data during COVID-19: how do we address data quality?’. Blog (https://medium.com/@trishachaudhuri/collecting-data-during-covid-19-477d...).

Crivello, G. and Favara, M. (2020) ‘COVID-19 and the “ethics of disruption”’. Blog about paper (pre-print). Young Lives, Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford (www.younglives.org.uk/content/covid-19-and-%E2%80%98ethics-disruption%E2...).

Franzke, A.S., Bechmann, A., Zimmer, M., Ess, C. and the Association of Internet Researchers (2020) Internet research: ethical guidelines 3.0 (https://aoir.org/reports/ethics3.pdf).

Gore, C., Brass, J. Baldwin, E., et al. (2021) ‘Field research and Covid-19 in East Africa: ethical and pragmatic challenges for research design, data collection and equity’. Blog. Digital Fieldwork, 30 January (http://sigla.georgetown.domains/digitalfieldwork/field-research-and-covid-19-in-east-africa-ethical-and-pragmatic-challenges-for-research-design-data-collection-and-equity/).

Hensen, B., Mackworth-Young, C.R.S., Simwinga, M., et al. (2021). ‘Remote data collection for public health research in a Covid -19 era: ethical implications, challenges and opportunities’ Health Policy and Planning, czaa158 (https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czaa158).

Kara, H. and Khoo, S. (2020) ‘How the pandemic has transformed research methods and ethics: 3 lessons from 33 rapid responses’. Blog, LSE (https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2020/10/26/how-the-pandemic-has-transformed-research-methods-and-ethics-3-lessons-from-33-rapid-responses/).

kNOwVAWdata, UNFPA, UN Women and WHO (2020) ‘Decision tree: data collection on violence against women and COVID-19’. Powerpoint graphic. United Nations Population Fund (https://asiapacific.unfpa.org/en/resources/decision-tree-data-collection-violence-against-women-and-covid-19).

Majorin, F., Watson, J. and Tidwell, J.B. (n.d.) ‘Summary report on ethics, consent, protection and risk’. Covid-19 HygieneHub (https://resources.hygienehub.info/en/articles/4171617-summary-report-on-ethics-consent-protection-and-risk).

Peterman, A., Bhatia, A. and Guedes, A. (2020) ‘Remote data collection on violence against women during COVID-19: a conversation with experts on ethics, measurement & research priorities (Part 1)’. Webpage. UNICEF (www.unicef-irc.org/article/1997-remote-data-collection-on-violence-again...).

Peterman, A., Bhatia, A. and Guedes, A. (2020) ‘Remote data collection on violence against women during COVID-19: a conversation with experts on research priorities, measurement and ethics (Part 2)’. Webpage. UNICEF (www.unicef-irc.org/article/2004-collecting-remote-data-on-violence-again...).

Research Ethics Committee and Avis, W. (2020) ‘Research ethics and Covid-19: a supplement to the Research Ethics Policy’. Covid Research Ethics Supplement. IIED - International Institute for Environment and Development (www.iied.org/sites/default/files/ethics_covid-19_ethics_policy_supplement.pdf).

Roberts, L.D. (2015) ‘Ethical issues in conducting qualitative research in online communities’ Qualitative Research in Psychology 12(3): 314–325 (https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2015.1008909).

SVRI – Sexual Violence Research Initiative (2020) ‘Trauma-informed phone interviews on sensitive topics: learning from the COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda’. An interview with Sylvia Namakula and Agnes Grace Nabachwa. SVRI (www.svri.org/blog/trauma-informed-phone-interviews-sensitive-topics-lear...).

UNCST (2020) National guidelines for conduct of research during coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, Republic of Uganda. [Available via a link in guidance given by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.]

UNICEF (2020) ‘Research on violence against children during the COVID-19 pandemic: guidance to inform ethical data collection and evidence generation’. UNICEF (https://data.unicef.org/resources/research-on-violence-against-children-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-guidance/).

UN Women (2020) ‘Violence against women and girls data collection during COVID-19’. UN Women (www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/public...).

Various (2020) ‘Ethics in sexual and reproductive health research during COVID-19’. Webinar. Corenet with SRHM Journal (www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewpwY-RMB-o).

WHO (2020) ‘Ethical standards for research during public health emergencies: distilling existing guidance to support Covid-19 R&D’ (www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/key-action/liverecovery-save-of-ethical-standards-for-research-during-public-health-emergencies.pdf).

Examples of information sheets and consent forms

Marston, H. and Earle, S. (2020) ‘Participant information sheet’. In the COVID-19: technology, self-isolation, loneliness & leisure activities study (https://healthwellbeing.kmi.open.ac.uk/haw-data/uploads/2020/04/Informat... in https://healthwellbeing.kmi.open.ac.uk/covid-19-technology-social-connec...). [Note the section ‘Risk of harm’ and the ‘thank you’ text.]

Repositories at other organisations

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) (2020) ‘Best practices for conducting phone surveys’. Webpage, live updates (https://www.povertyactionlab.org/blog/3-20-20/best-practices-conducting-...). [Resource drawing on their networks of expertise for best practices in switching from in-person to surveying online or via phone.]

AuthorAID (2020) ‘Tell us your lockdown stories!’. Webpage (www.authoraid.info/en/news/details/1388/).

Busara (2020) ‘Our response: what we have done’. (https://www.busaracenter.org/our-response).

Capacity4dev (2020) ‘Evaluation in crisis’. Devco/ESS initiative. (https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/devco-ess).

Digital Fieldwork (n.d.) ‘Reflections on, and resources for, innovative digital field research’. Website (http://sigla.georgetown.domains/digitalfieldwork/). [A range of materials on doing fieldwork digitally, also in a covid era.]

Feedback Labs (2020) ‘Category Archives: Feedback & COVID-19’ (https://feedbacklabs.org/blog/category/covid-19/). [Various blogs on how to do research and feedback findings during COVID-19.] 

Gauteng City-Region Observatory (2020) ‘Seminar series – Collecting social data: adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic’ (https://gcro.ac.za/news-events/news/detail/seminar-series-collecting-social-data-adapting-covid-19-pandemic/). [Various materials including presentations.] 

Geopol (2020) ‘Geopol resources: coronavirus’ (www.geopoll.com/coronavirus-research-resources/). 

IDinsight (2020) ‘How to maximise phone surveys for remote data collection’. Blog (https://medium.com/idinsight-blog/results-on-speed-dial-leveraging-data-...).

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) (2020) ‘RECOVR research projects’. Webpage (www.poverty-action.org/recovr/research-projects). [Repository of questionnaires and projects that have started running Covid-19-specific surveys.]

International Initiative for Imapct Evaluation (3ie) (2020) ‘Phone surveys in developing countries need an abundance of caution’. Blog (www.3ieimpact.org/blogs/phone-surveys-developing-countries-need-abundanc...). [List of reasons to be extra thoughtful during Covid-19 about whether the remote data collection should take place.]

Mixed Migration Centre (2020) ‘MMC adapts its 4Mi program to assess the impact of COVID-19 on refugees and migrants’ (www.mixedmigration.org/articles/mmc-adapts-its-4mi-program-to-assess-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-refugees-and-migrants/). [Various resources linked to changing migration-related research methods in light of COVID-19.] 

ODI/GAGE – Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (https://www.gage.odi.org/multimedia/). [GAGE are preparing a number of resources to support research during the Covid-19 era.]

Social Science Research Council (2020) ‘Covid-19 and the social sciences’. Essay series. SSRC Items (https://items.ssrc.org/category/covid-19-and-the-social-sciences/social-research-and-insecurity/). [Brings together scholars from across the social sciences to examine longstanding research practices and develop new ones in response to the insecurity created by Covid-19.]

SurveyCTO (2020) ‘The Safe People + Data Initiative’ (www.surveycto.com/safe-people-and-data/). 

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNSD) (2020) ‘Carrying out a telephone survey under the impact of COVID-19 – what to consider’. Blog (https://covid-19-response.unstatshub.org/statistical-programmes/telephon...).

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (2020) ‘Surveys under lockdown; a pandemic lesson’. Stats Brief (www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/Stats_Brief_Issue23_Apr2020_Surveys_...).

University College London, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership (2021) NCRM has produced a wealth of resources on ‘research methods in Covid-19 times’. Blog. UCL, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership (https://ubel-dtp.ac.uk/2021/03/16/ncrm-has-produced-a-wealth-of-resources-on-research-methods-in-covid-19-times/).

World Bank Blogs (2020) ‘Mobile phone surveys for understanding COVID-19 impacts: Part I Sampling and mode’. Webpage (https://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/mobile-phone-surveys-under...). [Includes a table comparing phone, interactive voice response (IVR) and sms surveys.]

Young Lives (2020) ‘Data and research’. Young Lives, Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford (www.younglives.org.uk/content/data-research). [Broad range of relevant information on the organisation’s Data and Research page.]

Fiona Samuels