Into the thick of it: Methodological issues in studying the drug trade in the golden triangle

Abstract

This paper explores research methods used in a study about a sensitive topic in a sensitive area-the drug trade in the Golden Triangle. It covers issues such as entering and exiting the research site, obtaining approval from the people in power at the research site, recruiting and training research staff, developing and testing interview protocols, locating the subjects to be interviewed, and conducting the interviews. This article also discusses problems encountered in the process of conducting the study and the limitations of the research project. Finally, it relates what lessons have been learned that are of general interest to researchers studying similar topics under comparable conditions. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.