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Looking at the 'field' through a Zoom lens: Methodological reflections on conducting online research during a global pandemic
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Paper Summary
Conflicts of Interest
Identified Weaknesses
Rating Explanation
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Paper Summary
Paperzilla title
Zoom In, World In: Online Fieldwork Can Be Surprisingly Immersive!
Online fieldwork, while different from traditional in-person methods, can be surprisingly immersive and revealing. The author found that online interactions allowed for more relaxed conversations, revealed different aspects of participants' lives, and facilitated a more symmetrical researcher-participant relationship, even within the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic context.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
None identified
Identified Weaknesses
Small sample size for online interactions
The sample size for online interactions is limited (13 "elite" interviews and one focus group), which might not be sufficient to draw broad conclusions about the effectiveness of online fieldwork.
Limited generalizability due to specific context and research topic
The study focuses on a specific context (Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic) and a specific research topic (self-identifications and nationalism), which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other contexts and research areas.
Lack of in-depth analysis of potential biases in online vs. in-person research
The author acknowledges the potential for bias in both online and in-person research, but doesn't fully explore how these biases might differ and how they might specifically affect the results of online fieldwork.
Rating Explanation
The paper presents a thoughtful reflection on the author's experience conducting online research during the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of using digital methods for qualitative research, particularly for ethnographic studies. While the study's specific context and limited sample size pose limitations to generalizability, the in-depth analysis and reflexive approach strengthen its contribution to methodological discussions in the field.
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File Information
Original Title:
Looking at the 'field' through a Zoom lens: Methodological reflections on conducting online research during a global pandemic
File Name:
Howlett_looking_at_the_field_through_a_zoom_lens_published.pdf
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File Size:
0.14 MB
Uploaded:
July 14, 2025 at 05:19 PM
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