Call for Papers for a Special Issue on COVID-19 and Novel Mixed Methods Methodological Approaches During Catastrophic Social Changes

Abstract

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for mixed methods research across virtually all disciplines and at all levels of social institutions has never been clearer. Moreover, the complexity of the research triggered by the current pandemic just over a century after the last pandemic of this magnitude in 1918, the ''Spanish Flu'' (Trilla et al., 2008), is precipitating unprecedented and creative research approaches for responding to the crisis. Similarly, researchers of all disciplines need the latest research approaches to investigate the implications of this world catastrophe. In this face of adversity lies opportunities for all walks of researchers to leverage the power of mixed methods research. 1 The world's researchers need new applications of existing methodologies and the creation of novel research methodologies to address a host of challenges in the healing sciences, education, business, health policy, political science, and the arts, humanities, and social sciences more broadly. Researchers who have developed novel methodologies in their investigation of other catastrophic social changes may have particular insights that are applicable now. The purpose of the Special Issue on COVID-19 and Novel Mixed Methods Methodology in Catastrophic Social Changes (abbreviated as ''Special Issue'' in the following) is to disseminate rapidly for use the novel applications and innovative mixed methods methodologies that could inform or have been triggered by the pandemic. Problems and Research Questions Associated With the COVID-19 Outbreak The outbreak from COVID-19, or specifically the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus type, from an epidemiological perspective alone commands the application of mixed methods research. As the outbreak was beginning to emerge in China and then across the globe, epidemiologists were calling attention to the problems of inadequate numerical data and of the limited research tools

Parental Views of Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Although support is needed on a regular basis, the COVID-19 pandemic increases the family support needs of individuals with ASD in such uncertain times. In this respect, researchers need to integrate emerging qualitative and quantitative data to understand catastrophic social changes like the COVID-19 outbreak, especially for people with ASD and developmental disorders (DD) and their families (Fetters & Molina-Azorin, 2020). Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study seeks to describe aspects of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic using the parental appraisals of children with disabilities and their families as a parent describes conditions through their own stories.…”

Public Work Engineering Leadership Challenges in Covid-19 Era: A Boss, A Manager, or A Leader

“…In this environment, it is imperative that leaders manage their employees and stakeholders with care, express a clear and compassionate vision for navigating the crisis, and act decisively. This is how leaders can help people in fear to move forward with purpose (Dirik 2020;Fetters et al 2020).…”

Methodological Bricolage and COVID-19: An Illustration From Innovative, Novel, and Adaptive Environmental Behavior Change Research

“…Researchers must seize this moment to use and create novel mixed methods methodologies for addressing the current crisis and to inform future cataclysmic and catastrophic social changes as well. (p. 285) This article addresses the call for innovative and novel mixed methods research (Azzari & Baker, 2020;Dodds & Hess, 2020;Gretzel et al, 2020;Fell et al, 2020;Fetters & Molina-Azorin, 2020;Mars & Ball, 2016;McSweeney & Faust, 2019;Pauwels, 2010) through a discussion of how the pandemic required our research team to reevaluate and continuously adapt data collection plans of visitor learning and proenvironmental behavior change in a Canadian National Park between June and September 2020. This continual process of adaptation resulted in both novel and innovative approaches in mixed methods research.…”