Evidencing Gatekeeping Relations through Narrativity

Abstract

Seeking to illustrate the social processes involved in the research activity of gaining access to specific empirical contexts, this paper suggests the appropriateness of using narratives as analytical anchors, to explore and document the social relations maintained with and within business companies used as case studies, in the context of intensive, qualitative research endeavors. A doctoral research project focusing on studying business expatriation practices used in Portuguese multinational companies, is used as reference. This project development was punctuated by field access constraints and reluctant gatekeeping interactions, as well as unplanned research circumstances that implied the continuous negotiation of the research program's overall feasibility conditions. This paper discusses the plausibility of using narratives to illustrate, from an inside-out perspective, the social embeddedness of research projects involving sensitive topics and reluctant gatekeepers. Anchored in the use of a specific research narrative, five factors are discussed as possible field sites access enablers, arguing that the use of narratives can represent a gain for research processes discussion, providing increased methodological reflexivity opportunities.