Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid dissemination
ContextPuerto Rico experienced four natural disasters in 4 years (2017–2021): Hurricanes Irma and Maria, thousands of earthquakes reaching 6.4 magnitude, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, our team sought to understand the impact of disaster aid distribution on poverty and economic inequali...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sociology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.959765/full |
| _version_ | 1797828944351723520 |
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| author | Laura Gorbea Díaz Alison Chopel Antonio Fernós Sagebién Lorena Bonilla Marrero Gerardo Rivera Figueroa Nicole Pecci Zegrí Anohiska Cardona Juneilis Mulero Oliveras Luis La Santa Paola Sánchez Rey |
| author_facet | Laura Gorbea Díaz Alison Chopel Antonio Fernós Sagebién Lorena Bonilla Marrero Gerardo Rivera Figueroa Nicole Pecci Zegrí Anohiska Cardona Juneilis Mulero Oliveras Luis La Santa Paola Sánchez Rey |
| author_sort | Laura Gorbea Díaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ContextPuerto Rico experienced four natural disasters in 4 years (2017–2021): Hurricanes Irma and Maria, thousands of earthquakes reaching 6.4 magnitude, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, our team sought to understand the impact of disaster aid distribution on poverty and economic inequality, and their relationship to the spread of COVID-19 across Puerto Rico. Rapid research was required to ensure we could collect perishable data within this ever-changing context.ChallengesOur mixed methods design relied on both secondary and primary data. Because analyses of the former were to inform where and how to collect the latter, timing was of the essence. The data sources identified were not readily available to the public, and thus required gaining access through direct requests to government agencies. The requests coincided with a transition between administrations after an election. This resulted in unexpected delays. Once in the field, the team had to balance the rapid nature of the research with the mindful work to avoid compounding traumas experienced by participants, heightened risk for re-traumatization and fatigue, the risk of COVID-19, the digital divide, and intermittent electrical and telecommunication services.AdaptationsIn response to the delayed access to secondary data, we adjusted our research question. We continued to collect data as they became available, incorporating some immediately into analyses, and cleaning and storing others for future research opportunities. To overcome ongoing trauma challenges and prevent fatigue, we recruited and hired a large temporary team, including members of communities where we collected data. By recruiting participants and co-researchers at the same time and place, we both collapsed time between these activities and increased our team's contextual competency. To adapt to challenges presented by the pandemic, we created hybrid data collection procedures where some data were collected online, and some in person, while maintaining COVID-19 protections. We used similar adaptations for dissemination.LessonsRapid research needs to be agile. Working within a convergence framework to investigate wicked problems had the unexpected added benefit of providing our team with a variety of disciplinary approaches which proved helpful in adapting to the changing conditions in the field. In addition to the resourcefulness of a transdisciplinary team, it is important to be willing to pivot in response to changes and to collect data where and when you can. To increase participation, opportunities need to be designed with flexibility, mindful of competing demands faced by individuals willing to collaborate. Collecting and analyzing data iteratively and utilizing local resources can enable rapid research that is rigorous and yields rich data.ContributionsOur team applied the lessons learned to structure a rapid and iterative dissemination plan. We combined member-checking with community-level dissemination, enabling us to hone findings further before presenting to policy makers and media. Rapid research creates opportunities to make data-informed program and policy adjustments when they can be most impactful. Both the media and policy makers pay closer attention to research on current events. Hence, our recommendation is to do more rapid research! The more we do, the better we will get at it, and the more accustomed community leaders, policy makers, and program designers will become to using data to inform decisions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:12:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8875cee7e8cd43b0823e7db710667708 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:12:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8875cee7e8cd43b0823e7db7106677082023-05-12T06:18:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752023-05-01810.3389/fsoc.2023.959765959765Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid disseminationLaura Gorbea Díaz0Alison Chopel1Antonio Fernós Sagebién2Lorena Bonilla Marrero3Gerardo Rivera Figueroa4Nicole Pecci Zegrí5Anohiska Cardona6Juneilis Mulero Oliveras7Luis La Santa8Paola Sánchez Rey9Puerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesIndependent Researcher, San Juan, PR, United StatesGraduate School of Business, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United StatesPuerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesPuerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesPuerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesPuerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesPuerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesPuerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesPuerto Rico Public and Applied Social Sciences Workshop, San Juan, PR, United StatesContextPuerto Rico experienced four natural disasters in 4 years (2017–2021): Hurricanes Irma and Maria, thousands of earthquakes reaching 6.4 magnitude, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, our team sought to understand the impact of disaster aid distribution on poverty and economic inequality, and their relationship to the spread of COVID-19 across Puerto Rico. Rapid research was required to ensure we could collect perishable data within this ever-changing context.ChallengesOur mixed methods design relied on both secondary and primary data. Because analyses of the former were to inform where and how to collect the latter, timing was of the essence. The data sources identified were not readily available to the public, and thus required gaining access through direct requests to government agencies. The requests coincided with a transition between administrations after an election. This resulted in unexpected delays. Once in the field, the team had to balance the rapid nature of the research with the mindful work to avoid compounding traumas experienced by participants, heightened risk for re-traumatization and fatigue, the risk of COVID-19, the digital divide, and intermittent electrical and telecommunication services.AdaptationsIn response to the delayed access to secondary data, we adjusted our research question. We continued to collect data as they became available, incorporating some immediately into analyses, and cleaning and storing others for future research opportunities. To overcome ongoing trauma challenges and prevent fatigue, we recruited and hired a large temporary team, including members of communities where we collected data. By recruiting participants and co-researchers at the same time and place, we both collapsed time between these activities and increased our team's contextual competency. To adapt to challenges presented by the pandemic, we created hybrid data collection procedures where some data were collected online, and some in person, while maintaining COVID-19 protections. We used similar adaptations for dissemination.LessonsRapid research needs to be agile. Working within a convergence framework to investigate wicked problems had the unexpected added benefit of providing our team with a variety of disciplinary approaches which proved helpful in adapting to the changing conditions in the field. In addition to the resourcefulness of a transdisciplinary team, it is important to be willing to pivot in response to changes and to collect data where and when you can. To increase participation, opportunities need to be designed with flexibility, mindful of competing demands faced by individuals willing to collaborate. Collecting and analyzing data iteratively and utilizing local resources can enable rapid research that is rigorous and yields rich data.ContributionsOur team applied the lessons learned to structure a rapid and iterative dissemination plan. We combined member-checking with community-level dissemination, enabling us to hone findings further before presenting to policy makers and media. Rapid research creates opportunities to make data-informed program and policy adjustments when they can be most impactful. Both the media and policy makers pay closer attention to research on current events. Hence, our recommendation is to do more rapid research! The more we do, the better we will get at it, and the more accustomed community leaders, policy makers, and program designers will become to using data to inform decisions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.959765/fulldisaster research methodseconomic equalizationdisaster aid and reliefhealth equitiesrapid research methods |
| spellingShingle | Laura Gorbea Díaz Alison Chopel Antonio Fernós Sagebién Lorena Bonilla Marrero Gerardo Rivera Figueroa Nicole Pecci Zegrí Anohiska Cardona Juneilis Mulero Oliveras Luis La Santa Paola Sánchez Rey Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid dissemination Frontiers in Sociology disaster research methods economic equalization disaster aid and relief health equities rapid research methods |
| title | Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid dissemination |
| title_full | Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid dissemination |
| title_fullStr | Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid dissemination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid dissemination |
| title_short | Collecting and communicating perishable data in a post-disaster context: rapid research and rapid dissemination |
| title_sort | collecting and communicating perishable data in a post disaster context rapid research and rapid dissemination |
| topic | disaster research methods economic equalization disaster aid and relief health equities rapid research methods |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.959765/full |
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