Digital distance and inequality in a pandemic: Online data collection challenges at a Municipality in South Africa

Through the 'Experience, Deconstruction, Implementation' reflective framework, this paper examines the complexities of data collection for a South African study on gendered perceptions and expectations of internal service quality within a municipality during the COVID-19 pandemic.The framework provides a non-prescriptive approach for critically analysing challenges, fostering reflexivity and empowering researchers to adapt methods to evolving contexts.This paper highlights key challenges, including navigating digital inequalities, managing virtual data collection, and addressing researcher positionality in an African context.The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new and exacerbated existing obstacles, such as limited internet access and technological literacy among participants.These challenges necessitated innovative strategies, including the redesign of digital tools and collaboration with organisational Information Technology departments to overcome technical barriers.Despite these hurdles, the study emphasizes the importance of reflexivity, adaptability, and ethical flexibility in research design, contributing to methodological developments in crisis-driven research.The findings offer actionable recommendations for future research, such as employing hybrid data collection methods, engaging stakeholders early, and designing genderresponsive tools to address digital inequities.By addressing these dynamics, this paper enhances the authenticity and relevance of research in the Global South and informs strategies to improve inclusivity in diverse, resourceconstrained contexts.