Negotiating gatekeepers and positionality in building trust for accessing the urban poor in the Global South

• Published in: Qualitative research journal Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 76 - 86
• Main Author: Lata, Lutfun Nahar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Armidale Emerald Publishing Limited 19.01.2021; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Case studies; Community; Developing countries; Empathy; Field study; Ghettos; Interpersonal Relationship; Interviews; LDCs; Low income groups; Middle class; Observation; Police; Poverty Areas; Power; Public spaces; Qualitative research; Rapport; Researcher subject relations; Researchers; Social Action; Social exclusion; Social interaction; Social Problems; Subjectivity; Trust; Trust (Psychology); Urban areas; Urban poverty; Vendors; Vulnerability; Women; World Problems; Bangladesh; Access; Urban poor; Marginalised groups; Trust; Building rapport; Global South
• ISSN: 1443-9883; 1448-0980
• DOI: 10.1108/QRJ-03-2020-0017

PurposeThis paper explores the importance of building trust and rapport with participants using gatekeepers and insider-outsider dynamics in accessing vulnerable research participants in the Global South.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws data from a qualitative case study conducted in Sattola slum in Dhaka.FindingsFindings suggest that access to participants can be gained through building rapport and trust with participants. A trusting relationship further helps the researcher to explore the processes of social exclusion experienced by the participants.Originality/valueFew studies is published on female researchers building trust with vulnerable research participants negotiating gatekeepers and their subjectivity in the field. The paper contributes original insights into this from fieldwork carried out by a middle-class female researcher in Dhaka. It raises important issues in securing the trust of participants when they are part of disadvantaged, exploited or generally vulnerable populations.