Paper short abstract:

My focus is on the ethnographic discourse of the data collection questions, when a researcher is not able to be psychically present in the study field. These discussions are based on my research on cultural identities of the Bolivian Aymara living in New York City.

Paper long abstract:

Cross-border cultures are becoming more common due to globalization. Therefore, in this paper I present my research where I focus on the cultural identities of the Bolivian Aymara immigrants living in New York City. The main expected outcome of this study is identifying how Aymaras in New York City see their cultural identity and how they describe their identity “between” two cultures.

My research is ethnographic, and I collect my data by using several methods such as questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and storytelling sessions. While collecting ethnographic data during the pandemic, I have realized the complexity of the study methods, but also the importance of finding new ways to communicate and from a far distance. Building connections and trust via video meetings is not easy. How does a researcher collect data during COVID-19? Could we as a researchers find new ways to encounter this?

The purpose of this paper is to reflect and arouse discussion of these data collection processes in ethnographic research in the time of COVID-19.