Social Cohesion in the Time of COVID-19: Exploring Changes in Attitudes, Behaviors, and Identities

The economic and health implications of the coronavirus pandemic are widespread and apparent. However, there is less understanding of the societal consequences of such acute, pervasive social disruption, particularly as it relates to social trust and how individuals engage with their communities. If not properly addressed, the social conflicts created by this outbreak have the potential to exacerbate or lead to discrimination, exclusion, inequality, and social and community unrest. In order to prevent and manage social conflict, we designed this qualitative case study to understand the impact of the coronavirus outbreak by analyzing social disruptions in a nuanced, holistic manner. Data from the study may be used to establish a foundation for better decision-making processes and provide context for the development of informed policy and community decisions going forward. While social impacts tend to be long-lasting, complex, and difficult to measure, this type of research is vital to addressing these particular social challenges since citizens from differing racial, ethnic, and community groups may experience and respond to the outbreak in myriad ways. Study participants will be residents of Broward County who resided in the county for at least three years prior to the pandemic outbreak. Participants will be required to speak English and to be 18 years of age or older. It is anticipated that at least 50 interviews will be conducted, and demographic questionnaires will allow for within-case comparative analysis between residents of different race, ethnicity, and nationality. In this presentation, we describe how we developed the research design and interview protocol. While we will not yet have study findings, we will share information on how the study is being conducted and what we are learning so far.