The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world and human life in every possible aspect, in a plenty of spheres causing irreversible changes – one of them being social sciences. In order to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on their research, many scholars turned to solutions that enabled them to conduct their explorations online. Although online tools had been applied in social research long before the outbreak of the pandemic, changing dynamics of professional life in times of coronavirus broadened the scale of their use in a significant way.

The use of online tools in conducting social research can be perceived as an opportunity of crossing the borders of time and space as it gives a plenty of possibilities of exploring the unknown without actually leaving one’s office. It can also turn out to be helpful in collecting and analysing data, both quantitative and qualitative, or serve as means of supplementing conventional research. Nevertheless, there are potential risks and challenges that need to be identified before starting explorations online. Certain challenges may materialise in the course of research and they also need to be addresses in a proper way.

Although online environment offers many advantages in carrying out social research, some scholars prefer to stay offline and conduct their investigations in a “traditional” form that enables them i.a. to conduct interviews face-to-face or participate in various events in person. These researchers, too, encounter risk and challenges to overcome. Facing a plenty of obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, new solutions had to be applied in social research.

Researchers and scholars representing various disciplines of social sciences are invited to share their experiences in terms of finding opportunities, identifying risks and responding to challenges faced while conducting their research both online and offline – in a “traditional” form. Papers addressing methodological problems of online/offline explorations within the scope of social sciences are welcome as well as articles describing practical aspects of conducting such research.

Participants of the conference will also have an opportunity to take part in methodological workshop conducted by experienced researchers.

The conference is organised within a framework of the project Navigating Social Worlds: Toolbox for Social Inquiry financed within the framework of Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships in Response of the Covid-19 Situation – Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness, the European Union. Project’s website: https://socialworlds.sgh.waw.pl/

For more information concerning the conference please visit: https://ssl-kolegia.sgh.waw.pl/pl/KES/Strony/news.aspx?NewsID=7f881af5-c7d7-46e7-8796-113fc4f71511&ListID=56b75eaa-6563-4cea-9b83-dff711f2fdc9