Short Take: Collecting Data from a Vulnerable Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sela R Harcey; Robin Gauthier; Kelly L Markowski; Jeffrey A Smith

doi:10.1177/1525822X221077398

Short Take: Collecting Data from a Vulnerable Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Field methods. 2022 Aug;34(3):265-271. doi: 10.1177/1525822X221077398.

Authors

Sela R Harcey^{1

2}, Robin Gauthier¹, Kelly L Markowski^{3

4}, Jeffrey A Smith¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology, , Lincoln, NE, USAUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln.
² Military Workplace Climate Research, Fors Marsh Group, Arlington, VA, USA.
³ Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center, , Columbus, OH, USAThe Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
⁴ Rural Drug Addiction Research (RDAR) Center, , Lincoln, NE, USAUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abstract

Conducting field research with a vulnerable population is difficult under the most auspicious conditions, and these difficulties only increase during a pandemic. Here, we describe the practical challenges and ethical considerations surrounding a recent data collection effort with a high-risk population during the COVID-19 pandemic. We detail our strategies related to research design, site selection, and ethical review.

Grants and funding

P20 GM130461/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States