Research in the pandemic: What impact do online formats have?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many research methods typically applied face-to-face had to be adjusted to online formats. In a recently published perspective, ZALF researchers, together with colleagues from five international social-ecological research projects, explore the question what drawbacks and possible merits are linked to this development. In a mutual reflection process the authors discuss the pros and cons across several methods.

While the authors agree that online settings make it more challenging to build rapport between researcher and research participant and to reach those reluctant to use IT-based communication formats or who are based in areas with insufficient internet access, they also conclude that switching to online formats allows to diversify the pool of available methods which then can help to engage an even more diverse group of participants.