COVID-19 I (2020)
Impacts on Scientific Research
Section 02
Survey Overview and Demographics
General Overview
Geographic Coverage: United States
Expertise:
- 68.9% Biology
- 21.7% Civil and Environmental Engineering
- 9.4% Biochemistry
Response Overview
Sample Size: 1968
Valid Responses: 373
Response Rate: 19
Date initial findings posted: 06.06.20
Most recent update: 06.06.20
Days survey in field: 22
Average response time: 21
Survey Demographics
Respondent Demographics:
- 63.5% Male
- 36.5% Female
- 100% Academic
- 0% Industry
Language(s): English
Section Overview
SciOPS conducted the initial COVID-19 survey of academic scientists in May 2020 to look at how COVID-19 policies have influenced academic scientists’ home-life, research, and views on policy.
Question
Have social distancing and other COVID-19 related policies had a negative impact on your research in any of the following ways? (N=360)
Finding
The majority of scientists responded that they faced substantial negative research impacts as a result of COVID-19 policies with the most disruptive being university shutdowns (93%) and lab work disruptions (88%).
Question
Have social distancing and other COVID-19 related policies had a positive impact on your research in any of the following ways? (N=362)
Finding
Scientists responded that the greatest positive research impacts as a result of COVID-19 policies are the development of new research topics (37%) and new collaborations (22%).
Question
Have social distancing and other COVID-19 related policies had a negative impact on your research vis-à-vis any of the following work-life situations? (N=362)
Finding
Large number of scientists responded that COVID-19 related work-life situations negatively impacted their research with the most common being conference cancelations (87%) and travel restrictions (86%).
Question
In which of the following ways have social distancing and other COVID-19 related policies had a positive impact on your research? (N=360)
Finding
Scientists responded that the most positive ways in which their research was impacted by COVID-19 policies are fewer distractions (38%) and fewer meetings (38%).
Question
Do you currently have one or more research grants that are facing financial problems that are directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Finding
About 30% of biologists, 24% of the biochemists and 31% of engineers responded that they have at least one research grant that is facing financial problems related to the pandemic.
Question
Have you taken any of the following actions in response to these financial problems? (N=108)
Finding
Of those facing grant financial problems (N=108), approximately 67% delayed the start of their data collection and about half applied for an extension as a result of financial problems.
