Can Digital Research be an Alternative Method during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia?

Unprecedented COVID-19 global pandemic entails uncertain conditions, which lead people to seek alternative solutions to make activities running accordingly. Limited movements due to travel restriction and health protection confine people’s activities, including the research process. Postponing research activities is arguably not the best solution for scholars, mainly while conducting data collection. In social and humanities research, researchers mostly undertake data collection through field studies and face-to-face communications prior to the pandemic. Social distancing procedures, however, encourage people to avoid close contacts and cancel visit plans. Thus, researchers are necessary to find an alternative method during uncertainty situation. Digital research method (DRM) seems to be a plausible way to keep research ongoing, although the implementation of that method in the developing countries’ research activities, compared to the developed countries, remains lagging behind. This research aims to position DRM amidst the pandemic situation and show possibilities in using this method as an alternative in the developing countries by taking Indonesia as a case study. Results show that to make DRM works in Indonesia, some requirements need to be fulfilled to meet academic standards, and whether relevant or not the research topic applies to be processed utilizing digital method are also essential to be considered.

Covid 19 Pandemic Mitigation in Indonesia

Reviewing Mas`udi, W. & Winanti., P. W. (2020). Tata Kelola Penanganan COVID-19 di Indonesia: Kajian Awal. Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University Press.

Bawean Island Community Survival Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemics

This study aims to examine the strategies and actions of the people of Bawean Island in meeting food needs during the COVID-19 pandemic by using Max Weber’s theory of action. Extracting information was carried out using participatory observation techniques and in-depth interviews and was supported by documentation and analysis using inductive use. The results showed that there were two strategies and actions, namely: saving on food needs and limiting household expenses. Saving on food needs is done by changing the consumption pattern of side dishes. People are looking for replacement side dishes, for example; People who are accustomed to consuming fresh sea fish for a week in a row, have started to replace them with tofu, tempeh and rencek fish. The savings were made because during the pandemic, the traffic flow from Bawean Island to Java (Gresik) was not smooth, causing foodstuffs to increase in price and scarcity. Restrictions on household expenditure are carried out by reducing household spending and only focusing on spending on food, health, electricity and fuel oil needs. These two strategies can save household food and shopping needs, before the pandemic it was usually IDR 150,000 to IDR 70,000-80,000 per day. Furthermore, the actions taken by the people of Bawean Island, namely continuing to work at the main job and working side jobs to increase income. People who choose to keep working in the main job feel that they cannot do anything other than survive in this job, this is done by many furniture traders and entrepreneurs who in the end, because there are no customers, are forced to use their savings for their daily needs. People who choose to work side-by-side are more based because they do not have savings funds and have to increase their income, the people who work a lot on the side in this research are the fishermen.

Islamic-based Institutions during Coronavirus Pandemic: A Comparative Case Study of Auckland, New Zealand and Jakarta, Indonesia

This article discusses interventions by Islamic-based institutions during coronavirus pandemic in Auckland, New Zealand and Jakarta, Indonesia. The aim of this article is to compare the interventions implemented by various Islamic-based institutions both in Auckland and in Jakarta. The method consists of literature review, informal interviews, and participant observations. There are three types of Islamic-based institutions: the formal institutions with its hierarchy and leadership, the independent non-governmental communities, and the informal local communities. In Auckland, the interventions were mostly done by the independent non-governmental communities and informal local communities. Kiwi Muslims tended to seek spiritual and material help at the closest Islamic-based institutions. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the interventions were mostly implemented by formal institutions such as Majelis Ulama Indonesia (Indonesian Council of Ulama) with different kinds of support from large Islamic civil society organizations, such as Nahdalatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah. MUI’s interventions aimed for wide acceptance among all Indonesian Muslims, but fatalistic and deterministic perspectives among many Indonesian Muslims led to low effort in mitigating pandemic and less compliance with MUI and government’s regulations.

Reimagining Future Island: The COVID-19 Impacts on Tourism Sector in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Strategies to Moving Forward

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the global tourism industry, leaving millions of people unemployed without certainty when tourism bounces back. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are amongst the worst hit by the novel coronavirus. The unprecedented crisis has severely aggravated the SIDS economic growth due to relying on foreign tourists heavily. In the absence of international tourism, small island residents have been grappling with alternative income sources. Despite its notorious impacts, many scholars look at this global pandemic as a discernible opportunity to reverse mass tourism in the SIDS. Therefore, this paper aims to elaborate on the current condition of small islands communities amid COVID-19, their coping strategies, and their reflection of the future tourism industry in the SIDS. Furthermore, this paper also aims to discuss a prevailing policy to contain health emergency and economic collapse in the SIDS. Based on the critical literature review, many SIDS were already faced complex predicaments before the pandemic, such as high vulnerability to the climate crisis, lack of natural resources, extreme poverty, and reliance on external debts. International support is crucial to avoid the worst-case scenario for SIDS, including those which depend on the tourism industry. As a part of the recovery phase, this paper underscores the urgency of a more sustainable tourism practice for future development in the SIDS. That comprises strategic issues ranging from environmental-based tourism with a focus on socio-cultural aspects, and economic diversification to small island community resilience.

Crisis Communication in the Time Of COVID-19: The Significance of Grassroot Initiative in Democratic Countries (Case of Brazil, Indonesia, and the United States)

All countries are adapting to the dynamics and changes posed by the global pandemic of COVID-19. The government is expected to act immediately and effectively in response to the crisis, particularly through public communication to their respective citizens. In this regard, crisis communication is vital to minimize the loss and damage caused by the pandemic in various aspects of life. Being able to communicate in the right and effective way during a crisis can determine the overall outcome of the situation. This paper explores on how crisis communication has conducted in the time of COVID-19 by comparing three respective democratic governments: Brazil, Indonesia, and the United States. Through qualitative method, this paper argues that in a democratic society where openness and freedom of speech is guaranteed, the process to disseminate information through crisis communication could be a daunting task. The study indicated at least four main factors that could hinder the effectiveness of crisis communication: 1) a large population and politically divide in the society; 2) the lack of coordination between levels of governments; 3) the governments’ lack of capability to communicate with the public; and 4) an incompetent crisis communication strategy. The study also found some of the grassroot initiative which is seen significance to fill the information gaps left by the government.

The Transformation of Science Communication in VUCA Era: Study of Media Startups Kok Bisa in Indonesia

This study analyzes the transformation of science communication conducted by media startups in the VUCA era in Indonesia. In the information age, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, people are increasingly dependent on educational needs. Nevertheless, there are challenges of information explosion that are too dynamic and less effective. As a result, media startups have implemented science communication innovations to open public access to science. Previous studies have acknowledged science communication models using visual literacy approaches and using narrative explanations. Therefore, the model faces significant challenges such as information uncertainty, establishing a science communication ecosystem, and ambiguity due to cultural change. Employing qualitative content analysis methods, this article found that media startups face the biggest challenges in developing science communication. On the other hand, the VUCA era can be a driving tool for media startups to conduct adaptive social transformation in the field of science communication.

The Phenomenon of Underage Motorbike Riders in Junior High School Students: A Critical Review of Juvenile Delinquency

Motorbike use by students who are under the age of 17 years is an act of infringement. It is stated in Article 281 of Law Number 22 Year 2009 regarding Traffic and Road Transportation. Traffic violations is often done by junior high school students. User behavior motorbikes under the age is a form known as juvenile delinquency. In this study, researcher took samples at two schools namely SMPN 1 Bambanglipuro and SMPN 2 Sanden, Bantul, because researcher saw a lot of students who ride the motorbike to go to school. To examine this phenomenon, researchers used quantitative research methods by taking 394 students as respondents. Associated with the phenomenon of motorbike users under age, this paper focuses on a form of parenting from their parents and motorbike users under age as the dependent variable and independent variables. In this study, the researcher used chi square test to look at the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable. This paper uses the concept of social control theory of Travis Hirschi (2007) to understand how such behavior could occur. Indeed the respondents knew what they were doing was a violation, but because of the environment that tends to allow these actions to make them feel safe. As the results obtained in this study, the high number of motorbike users in this study, due to several reasons, namely, less strict parents of children, lack of maintenance performed by local traffic police, and the lack of public attention to such behavior.

The Rise of Exclusive Boarding Houses: Gentrifying Kampung Through New Wave of Urbanization in Jakarta

This study discusses gentrification in Kampung Paseban caused by the urbanization of Jakarta. The aim of this study is to show how urban processes create gentrification in kampung, focusing on the rise of exclusive boarding houses and its consequence on social changes within Kampung Paseban in Central Jakarta. The analysis employs a qualitative approach that emphasizes the interpretation of the spatial and urban social changes in Kampung Paseban. The method consists of literature review, spatial mapping, in-depth interviews, and field observations. This study shows that the rise of exclusive boarding houses followed by the influx of middle-class migrants has created dualism in both the physical and social aspects of the kampung. The old kampung vibe in Kampung Paseban has now diminished and has been replaced by the emergence of exclusive boarding houses which has become ubiquitous since the 2000's. Gentrification has created a competitive environment in the local economy which causes struggles for the natives and the settlers. In terms of sociocultural impact, the existence of exclusive boarding houses that provide a more private space and are disconnected from the surrounding environment causes social interaction to become more less between the newcomers and the natives. This study shows how kampung copes with urban situations; creating a new social environment, which demonstrates urbanism within kampung.

Smart Risk Governance as The Future Risk Communication

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