The COVID-19 pandemic control measures, among them social distancing, led to a rise in video meetings and interviews in business, social and research arenas. Face to face human interaction decreased dramatically during 2020–2022, when video meetings and e-conferences quickly became the order of the day. Qualitative researchers rapidly adapted to restrictions and face to face interviews or group discussions were online. The purpose of this commentary is to share some of the experiences made by researchers that used electronic media for data collection during the pandemic and to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages to determine the added value that can be applied post-pandemic. The advantages and disadvantages of this methodology have not been widely reported and existing evidence is not conclusive. Highlighting and sharing qualitative researcher experiences with this data collection approach will hopefully further stimulate debate, hone methods, raise awareness and prepare researchers as more pandemics are forecasted.
- Open Access
- Perspective
Video Interviews as a Tool in Qualitative Research: Researcher Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Janet Michel
Author Information
Received: 10 Feb 2026 | Revised: 20 Apr 2026 | Accepted: 12 May 2026 | Published: 26 May 2026
Abstract
Keywords
qualitative methods | video interviews | pandemic | experiences | post-pandemic lessons | evidence | SDGs
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Tripon, C. Towards Quality Education for All: Integrating EdTech, Mentorship, and Community in Support of SDG 4. Educ. Sci. 2025, 15, 1184.
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Richardson, P.E.; Wilson, S. Evaluating a women’s digital inclusion and storytelling initiative through the lens of empowerment. Digit. Geogr. Soc. 2024, 7, 100092.
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