Accessing large corporations: Research ethics and gatekeeper-relations in the case of researching a Japanese-invested factory

Abstract

Large Japanese corporations have usually been researched according to one out of five main approaches. This short paper presents and discusses some dilemmas which emerged from a small research project where the first approach, access through the front door by direct contact with the corporations high-level representatives, was combined with direct contact and interviews with regular employees. The dilemmas are presented and discussed in view of the discussion within sociological methodology regarding research on sensitive topics, conditional access and relationship with gatekeepers.