The changing experience of researching family and intimate relationships |
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| Authors: | DENNIS MARSDEN |
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| Institution: | 1. Peter Halfpenny is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Applied Social Research, Coupland II Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester Ml3 9PL, UK.;2. Stephanie Hudson is a Research Assistant in the Centre for Applied Social Research at the University of Manchester.;3. Jennifer Jones is a Postgraduate student in Applied Social Research at the University of Manchester. |
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| Abstract: | A small-scale study to explore the possibility of obtaining information about small companies' charitable giving through telephone interviews provided challenges on three research design issues: selecting a target sample, telephone interviewing, and sensitive research topics. This article explores the general lessons derived from the study. First, it considers suitable sampling frames for identifying and contacing small companies. Second, it discusses the consequences for response rates of the telephone warfare between telemarketers and small companies. Third, it reviews what contributes to the sensitivity of research topics and ways of overcoming this. |
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| Keywords: | ethics regulation irrationality ethics creep emotions |
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