BEYOND REACTIONARY: SAGE PRACTICES FOR INTENTIONAL REFLEXIVITY IN ONLINE QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION

Introduction/Frame: Recent pandemic responsiveness has prompted increased online qualitative data collection. Few researchers have offered detailed discussions reflecting on how and/or why they maintained or adjusted in-person data collection techniques for online shifts. This paper pulled on lived experiences from researchers who reflected upon their online data collection practices, galvanized by evidence from peer-reviewed research. Research Question/Objectives: The following research questions guided this project: (1) How did qualitative data collection change when research rapidly shifted online? (2) What were essential elements to consider from in-person to online qualitative data collection practices? Goals and Methods: The goal was to inform qualitative researchers of key concepts to consider in adjusting to online data collection based on a fusion of the literature alongside professional experiences. This applied methodological paper utilized field notebooks and notes from research discussion groups during the transition to online data collection to examine considerations toward responsively revising data collection procedures aligned to online contexts. Results: Our investigation identified eight essential Successfully Applied, Grounded-in-Experience (SAGE) practices to consider in reconceptualizing data collection approaches for online contexts: (1) (re)examining online data collection differences in proximity and amplification of facial-emphasis communication, (2) strengthening awareness of truncated corporal visuality in online contexts, (3) increasing fluency and agility with digital tools, (4) increasing mindfulness of temporal need for visual data over audio-only data, (5) increasing research-oriented professionalism to counterbalance casual social or classroom-styled video chat practices, (6) enhancing researcher reflexivity regarding transcription and field notes, (7) maintaining procedural flexibility and balance regarding potential hybrid data collection, and (8) increasing temporal accessibility vis-à-vis boundaries. Final Considerations: Building from reactionary experiences and guidance during the emergency transition to online data collection modes and approaches, there is a need to reflexively reconceptualize data collection for online contexts.