DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10091952
title: Research Survey on 'Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Scientific Research'

description: 1. The aim of the research
The survey aimed to collect opinions on how the pandemic has changed scientific research, especially in regards to the usage of different forms of digital tools. The onset of COVID-19 has had an immediate impact on how scientists were able to use their time and resources to do their work. However, there was a lack of real-time data on how they are responding to this event and how it has had differential impacts across scientific fields.
2. Research instrument and subject
A survey questionnaire prepared in English was developed for collecting empirical data from academics in Poland and abroad. We used the same version of the survey questionnaire both in Poland and in other countries in the world. The survey questionnaire consisted of several parts. Its first part included questions on demographic information. The second part of the survey questionnaire contained questions about how respondents' work hours were allocated for different activities during, and after the coronavirus pandemic outbreak and the predicted changes in future publication and funding related to spending on researching, writing during and after the coronavirus pandemic. The last part of the survey questionnaire included questions about scientific works, their quality, and support by ICTs during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the implications of the pandemic for these issues in the future. At the end of the survey questionnaire, we asked respondents about their opinions with regard to the forecast situation in research and education after the coronavirus pandemic. Selecting a sample is a fundamental element of a quantitative study. Stratified sampling was used to obtain the sample, which can be taken to be true for the whole population. The strata were identified based on country, age, gender, position type, and research discipline. To gather a substantial number of respondents, snowball sampling was pursued, which involved daily and routine distribution (social media and e-mail posting) of an introductory e-letter and survey-link requesting participation in the research. To increase response rates, the following methods were used: involving academics (encouraging colleagues), pushing the survey (providing respondents with the survey URL in e-mails sent directly to them), publishing the project with a link for the basic questionnaire on the ResearchGate website and Facebook fan pages and providing frequent reminders.1
3. Data collection
Based on several analyses showing that surveys conducted over the internet provide results that are as valid as more "traditional" methods and due to social distancing caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we used the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method for recruiting respondents and collecting data. The LimeSurvey tool was employed for recruiting reliable samples. The data were collected during a two-month period of work, between June 11, 2020, and August 18, 2020. This led to 982 responses. After screening the responses and excluding outliers, 476 usable, correct, and complete responses were collected. This uploded dataset is a subset of a larger dataset that the authors collected for their research project titled "The Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Scientific Research and University Teaching". It includes the questionnaire responses related to research during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The questions were designed to gather information about the impact of the pandemic on academic scientists' research.1
4. Results
Our results may suggest targeted policies to alleviate the disruptions experienced by specific scientific fields.  The findings of the past research were documented in three articles, which can be found below: 
1. Ziemba, E. W., & Eisenbardt, M. (2022). The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on ICT usage by academics. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 62(6), 1154-1168. DOI: 10.1080/08874417.2021.1992806 
2. Wartini-Twardowska, J., Grabara, D., & Ziemba, E. W. (2021). The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Use of Digital Technologies by Scientists: A Comparison Between Poland and Abroad. Problemy Zarządzania, 19(3/2021 (93), 12-31. DOI:10.7172/1644-9584.93.1 
3. Maruszewska, E. W., Eisenbardt, M., & Tuszkiewicz, M. (2022). COVID Pandemic as a disruptive factor enhancing ICT USE in social sciences' teaching practices. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology. Organization & Management/Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Slaskiej. Seria Organizacji i Zarzadzanie, (160). DOI: 10.29119/1641-3466.2022.160.25