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The process of sample recruitment: an ethnostatistical perspective

University of Sussex, UK, m.thomas{at}sussex.ac.uk

Michael Bloor

University of Glasgow, UK, m.bloor{at}socsci.gla.ac.uk

Jane Frankland

University of Southampton, UK, j.l.frankland{at}soton.ac.uk

This article draws on the authors' fieldwork experiences in four different research studies to address the gap in the methodological literature on the practical activities of sample recruitment. Boundaries between ineligibility and refusal are considered along with the `emotional labour' required during the recruitment process. In particular, the article aims to draw attention to the necessary indeterminacies in the recruitment process to show how the practical reasoning and situated action of researchers in the field critically determine the constitution of the study sample and the recruitment rate. It is concluded that, while no rules can adequately specify the process of recruitment, more resources, particularly to allow team recruitment, would reduce researcher stress and allow greater quality control.

Key Words: emotional labour • ethnostatistics • recruitment • response rates • samples

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Qualitative Research, Vol. 7, No. 4, 429-446 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1468794107082300


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Thomas, M. Articles by Frankland, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?