GAINING ACCESS FOR RESEARCH Reflections from Experience

Abstract This paper reflects on the experiences of facilitating and maintaining qualitative research access into a sample of international hotel groups. The existing methodology literature tends to simplify the access process by explaining it through a number of stages. Fieldwork experience suggests that the propositions stated in literature are partly relevant; however, there are further critical issues that need to be considered by investigators and their academic institutions. Particularly, researchers should be better trained not only in developing relevant skills to carry out qualitative case studies but also in dealing with the complexities of facilitating and maintaining access into large organizations.

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