2020-06-10 (Creation date: 2020-06-10)

Dr. Jessica Nina Lester

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a range of concerns and questions for social science researchers. For many qualitative researchers, research sites are no longer accessible, and many data collection methods are no longer feasible. Critical questions about what qualitative research can and even should do during times of physical distancing are arising, particularly among graduate students. Specifically, many graduate students with qualitative dissertation work in development or already underway are now facing notable delays to their progress toward completion, with questions about a “research restart” pointing to uncertainty. 
 
This webinar aims to address some of the common concerns that graduate students conducting qualitative research are now navigating. Specifically, in this webinar, the following will be explored: the complicated ethics of “continuing research” during uncertain times; the value of historicizing methodological practice when designing and re-designing qualitative research methodologies and methods; and virtual methodologies and methods for carrying out qualitative research.

Indiana University Bloomington Social Science Research Commons

Social Science Research Commons

Social Science Research Commons

Performers
Dr. Jessica Nina Lester is an Associate Professor of Inquiry Methodology in the School of Education at Indiana University. Dr. Lester's work on qualitative research methodologies and methods takes an interdisciplinary approach and has included consideration of the theoretical and practical challenges to engaging in qualitative research, the affordances and limitations of using digital tools for qualitative inquiry, and the importance of centering disability and critical disability studies in critical qualitative research.