Bridging Distance and Trust: A Remote Mixed-Methods Approach for Rural Health and Human Services Research

• In Event: Community and Urban Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 8: Small Towns and Rural Regions

Abstract

Researchers studying rural communities face several barriers to conducting research, including the costs and practical constraints of conducting research across large distances (Pierce & Scherra, 2004; Strijker et al., 2017), data scarcity (Shapiro, 2021; Strijker et al., 2017), trust in researchers (Reck et al., 2025), and generalizability between diverse types of rural communities (Edin et al., 2023; Strijker et al., 2017). We showcase a case study that uses large-scale mixed methods research design to overcome these challenges. Zoom interviewing and transcription reduce costs, while relationships with trusted intermediaries help build community trust . Previous studies identify the importance of mixed-methods research for health services research (Simmons et al., 2012; Tariq & Woodman, 2013), and address the use of mixed-methods research in rural communities (Simmons et al., 2012; Strijker et al., 2020). This study extends previous work by applying a large-N remote mixed methods approach. This approach offers a scalable model for rural health and human services mixed-methods research. Using administrative data to guide interview sampling, combined with Zoom-based tools, can reduce costs and expand reach. When possible, we suggest pairing this approach with site visits to some communities to gain direct community experiences.

Authors

• Shoshana Shapiro, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Aayu Jain, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine