Maintaining Impactful Research during Disruptions: Lessons from the Pandemic
View the archived webinar (available to members only)
Presenters:
Jacqueline McGinley, PhD, LMSW, Binghamton University
Lieke van Heumen, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
Sara Miller, LCPC, ATCS, University of Illinois at Chicago
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted innumerable aspects of daily life. For many researchers, data collection was delayed or prematurely ended; data analysis became more challenging; and, dissemination slowed as travel was halted and competing demands rose. These challenges were often more pronounced for researchers in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who rightfully prioritized the safety of people with IDD and regularly contended with restrictive state/local policies. Yet, impactful research remained possible throughout the pandemic.
In this webinar, we will describe lessons learned and best practices for pursuing a meaningful research agenda during periods of disruption. We will share examples from specific research projects, from content analyses that were conducted entirely remotely to inclusive research projects with people who have IDD that transitioned to an online context. The purpose of this webinar is to empower researchers to think creatively about maintaining their lines of inquiry in the face of external challenges.
Objectives
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Reflect upon lessons learned from those who continued primary and secondary research throughout the pandemic;
2. Identify best practices for maintaining an impactful line of inquiry despite disruptions, from conceptualization through data collection and analysis and onto dissemination.
3. Recognize opportunities for pivoting or modifying their own research agendas when faced with external challenges.