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Accessing Socially Excluded People — Trust and the Gatekeeper in the Researcher-Participant Relationship

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  • Nick Emmel
  • Kahryn Hughes
  • Joanne Greenhalgh
  • Adam Sales

Abstract

This paper describes methodological findings from research to recruit and research hard-to-reach socially excluded people. We review the ways in which researchers have used particular strategies to access hard-to-reach individuals and groups and note that little attention has been given to understanding the implications of the nature of the trust relationship between researcher and participant. Gatekeepers invariably play a role in accessing socially excluded people in research, yet discussion to date invariably focuses on the instrumental role gatekeepers play in facilitating researchers’ access. In this paper we explore the possibilities for analysing relationships in terms of trust and distrust between gatekeeper and socially excluded participant. Our analysis considers the different kinds of relationships that exist between gatekeepers and socially excluded people and, in particular, the relationships of power between gatekeepers and socially excluded people. Insights into the nature of trust among socially excluded people will also be considered. Finally, we discuss how size and use of social networks among socially excluded groups and perceptions of risk in interactions with gatekeepers are important to understanding the possibilities for trustful relationships, and for meaningful and successful access for researchers to socially excluded individuals and groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Nick Emmel & Kahryn Hughes & Joanne Greenhalgh & Adam Sales, 2007. "Accessing Socially Excluded People — Trust and the Gatekeeper in the Researcher-Participant Relationship," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 12(2), pages 43-55, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:12:y:2007:i:2:p:43-55
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.1512
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah Goode, 2000. "‘Researching a Hard-To- Access and Vulnerable Population: Some Considerations on Researching Drug and Alcohol-Using Mothers’," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 5(1), pages 61-73, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sirpa Saario & Christopher Hall & Doris Lydahl, 2021. "Engaging with Hard‐To‐Reach Clients: Towards the Last Resort Response by Welfare Workers," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 265-275.
    3. Nobari, Niloofar & Dehkordi, Ali Mobini, 2023. "Innovation intelligence in managing co-creation process between tech-enabled corporations and startups," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PB).
    4. Victoria E. Salmon & Lauren R. Rodgers & Peter Rouse & Oli Williams & Emma Cockcroft & Kate Boddy & Luana De Giorgio & Ciara Thomas & Charlie Foster & Rosie Davies & Kelly Morgan & Rachel Jarvie & Chr, 2021. "Moving through Motherhood: Involving the Public in Research to Inform Physical Activity Promotion throughout Pregnancy and Beyond," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Anna Tarrant & Kahryn Hughes, 2020. "The Ethics of Technology Choice: Photovoice Methodology with Men Living in Low-Income Contexts," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 25(2), pages 289-306, June.
    6. Brown, Kelly & Toombs, Maree & Nasir, Bushra & Kisely, Steve & Ranmuthugala, Geetha & Brennan-Olsen, Sharon L. & Nicholson, Geoffrey C. & Gill, Neeraj S. & Hayman, Noel S. & Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan, , 2020. "How can mobile applications support suicide prevention gatekeepers in Australian Indigenous communities?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).

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