A textbook on gaining access to field settings for qualitative researchers in the social sciences. Prescriptive advice and a series of vignettes from actual research projects.

Gaining access is a critical part of doing research, not only because one must 'get in' in order to gain information, but also because the quality of access affects what information is available to the researcher. Despite its importance, the literature on qualitative methods has not yet provided an extensive treatment of this issue. Gaining Access fills the void by offering useful, prescriptive advice on how to successfully enter different field settings for interviewing and observation. The detailed methodological guidelines presented by the authors are reinforced in a set of case studies by expert researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds on a wide variety of formal and informal settings, from working with ethnic minorities in Bosnia to studying prisons, sex workers, welfare offices, and the clergy. This book will provide useful ideas to experienced qualitative researchers as well as invaluable advice to novices conducting their first study.

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2
Chapter One
Chapter 3
Chapter One: Finding Informants
Chapter 4
Chapter Two: Human Subjects and Permission to Contact Informants
Chapter 5
Chapter Three: Making Initial Contact
Chapter 6
Chapter Four: Developing Rapport
Chapter 7
Chapter Five: Exiting: Ending the Relationship
Chapter 8
Chapter Two
Chapter 9
Chapter Six: Gaining Access to Individuals
Chapter 10 Maintaining Access
Chapter 11 Chinese Officials as Ordinary Respondents
Chapter 12 Dealing With Difficult Gatekeepers, Vulnerable Populations and 'Hooks' That Go Awry: An Access Story
Chapter 13 Gaining Access: Courting Minorities in Postwar Bosnia
Chapter 14
Chapter Seven: Gaining Access for Interviewing
Chapter 15 Accessing Business, Government, and Non-Governmental Organization Actors in Mexico and Brazil
Chapter 16 Rendering Unto Caesar: Access to Local Religious Leaders
Chapter 17 Breaking into the Bank: The Challenge of Gaining Meaningful Access to the World Bank
Chapter 18 Help From Unexpected Places: Access and Assistance From Within an Organization
Chapter 19
Chapter Eight: Gaining Access for Interviewing and Observation
Chapter 20 Going to Prison
Chapter 21 How I Got Them to Talk to Me: The Importance of Persistence, Personality, and Identity
Chapter 22 Accessing Multiple Human Service Organizations for Field-Based Research
Chapter 23
Chapter Nine: Gaining Access for Extended Observation
Chapter 24 Studying Work Groups in Indian, China, and Hungary
Chapter 25 Accessing Architects in the Auto Industry
Chapter 26 Access to Rivera: Entering and Exiting an Urban High School
Chapter 27 Crossing that Yellow Line: Obtaining Access to the Police Departments
Chapter 28
Chapter Ten: Gaining Access for Participation
Chapter 29 Perseverance Furthers
Chapter 30 Inside DOE
Chapter 31 Access as Relating: On the Relationship Aspects of Different Types of Access
Chapter 32 Access and Participation in a Government Agency
Chapter 33 Index
Chapter 34 About the Authors