Considerations for Remote Data Collection Among Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a global shift in nonclinical research methodologies. Many studies have halted data collection to respect international restrictions on in-person contact. However, the demand for information has never been higher. This is especially true for children and adolescents who, in most countries of the world, have been out of the classroom and away from peers for months. Multiple studies from before the pandemic show the importance of peer interaction in child development, but what is the human cost of the pandemic for our younger citizens? This question validates the necessity for research among young people to fully understand the impacts of the current emergency. Although the pandemic created a need, it has also created a unique opportunity. The ubiquity of technology allows for remote data collection through the use of Web platforms, applications, and email. However, studies of these modalities show that in-person data collection has higher response rates and better quality of data than remote data collection. Thus, new remote data collection strategies are needed.