A Dynamic Process Model for Finding Informants and Gaining Access in Qualitative Research

Abstract

This article surfaces some of the emotional encounters that may be experienced while trying to gain access and secure informants in qualitative research. Using the children’s game of hopscotch as a metaphor, we develop a dynamic, nonlinear process model of gaining access yielding four elements: study formulation with plans to move forward, identifying potential informants, contacting informants, and interacting with informants during data collection. Underlying each element of the process is the potential for researchers to re-strategize their approach or exit the study. Autobiographical stories about gaining access for our PhD dissertation research are used to flesh out each element of the process, including the challenges we experienced with each element and how we addressed them. We conclude by acknowledging limitations to our study and suggest future and continued areas of research.

(I Can’t Get No) Saturation: A Simulation and Guidelines for Sample Sizes in Qualitative Research

“…Purposive sampling allows the researcher to make an informed estimation about the probability of observing a given code at each sampling step, using (theoretical) prior information, like sampling frames [39] or insights gained during the data analysis. (This conceptualizing of purposive sampling is also consistent with the notion of theoretical sampling.…”

Getting On With Field Research Using Participant Deconstruction

“…We argue that participant 23 deconstruction supports and complements these general approaches by offering a specific technique that ethnographers, participant observers, case researchers, and interviewers can implement within their relationally reflexive practice. Moreover, the technique's focus on the getting-on stage of field research fills a gap between approaches for researcher reflexivity at the getting-in stage of gaining access (Cunliffe & Alcadipani, 2016;Peticca-Harris et al, 2016) and getting-out stage of exit (Michailova et al, 2014).…”

“…At the initial 'getting in' stage, researchers identify suitable participants and secure their commitment to the research through participation in interviews, observation, ethnography, case studies, and/or action research (Peticca-Harris, deGama, & Elias, 2016). At the 'getting on' stage, researchers enter the field and try to gain understanding of the lives of research participants (Buchanan et al, 1988).…”

The Antecedents of Electronic Banking Adoption in Saudi Arabia: Using Diffusion of Innovation Theory

“…Lastly, observability is the level to which the innovation outcomes can be noted by others. Notable innovations that have a higher relative advantage, compatibility, trialability and observability and with less complexity are predicted to be adopted faster compared to other innovations (Rogers, 2003). Under this variable, consumer behaviour towards e-banking services is explained.…”

“…The value equal to and greater than 90% (r ≥ 0.9) means that there is multicollinearity among the independent variables (Pallant, 2010). However, a correlation matrix was examined to identify any occurrence of high correlation, that is, multicollinearity among the independent latent variables of this study (Peticca et al, 2016;Peterson, & Kim, 2013). The presence of multicollinearity should be assessed to ensure that multivariate data analysis method assumptions are met.…”