Why Me? Challenges Associated With Recruiting Participants for a Study Focusing on “Wealthy Men”: Reflections From Fieldwork Conducted in Tanzania

Deane, Kevin; Wamoyi, Joyce; Mgunga, Samwel and Changalucha, John (2019). Why Me? Challenges Associated With Recruiting Participants for a Study Focusing on “Wealthy Men”: Reflections From Fieldwork Conducted in Tanzania. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919849318

Abstract

It is well-known that conducting research with elite groups presents a range of unique methodological challenges including gaining access to and recruiting a demographic group that is underrepresented if not entirely absent from most research. This issue is particularly pronounced when the research topic is sensitive or potentially politicized and conducted in low-income settings in which large wealth inequalities are apparent. Drawing on recent experiences from fieldwork conducted in Tanzania that aimed to explore attitudes toward HIV testing among wealthy men, we reflect on significant challenges in the recruitment process. These included the framing of the research project, the (often unspoken) politicized subtext of the (sensitive) research, the socioeconomic climate, and the navigation of time requirements. Our experiences suggest that a careful consideration of these methodological issues will help researchers recruit elite participants and ensure that data are collected from appropriate samples.

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