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for this appears to be connected to the issue of gaining access and cooperation. For even when the Chinese are present in sufficient numbers in smaller geographical areas, e.g. London, Liverpool, Manchester (thus reducing the difficulties of sampling and locating the Chinese) the process of gaining access and cooperation can still pose a substantial obstacle. Persuading most Chinese to participate in a study is a constant struggle, Some Chinese do not want to express their views; some Chinese struggling in a small family business do not have the time to express their views; and some Chinese do not believe they have views worth expressing.
Wong (1992:6) explicated her reasoning thus:
'Chinese in Britain, are reserved, conservative and complex. Many Chinese people are reluctant to reveal their problems as they are afraid of "losing face." Some business proprietors worry that their personal privileges will be interfered with by the government. Some Chinese educated professionals and politicians do not want to cooperate with researchers as knowledge of Chinese communities has become a key to leadership and power. It is therefore not surprising that previous research indicates that gaining access to Chinese people is a major problem in conducting research on Chinese communities in Britain.'
Social ties however, have proved useful under such circumstances in negotiating access and cooperation. Consequently in several studies there was the bias resulting from the researchers' utilisation of social networks, for instance to supplement figures or to increase the response rates, exemplified by the Commission For Racial Equality survey where the interviewers' contacts were used; also O'Neill's heavy reliance on informal contacts; and Tan's inclusion of personal friends in that study (Taylor, 1987:302).
In my research study it was eventually decided that postal questionnaire survey method would be distributed in a social network using a snowballing technique. According to Burgess the snowballing technique 'involves using a small group of informants who [are] asked to put the researcher in touch with their friends...then asking them about their friends...until a chain of informants has been selected' (1984:55).
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for this appears to be connected to the issue of gaining access and cooperation. For even when the Chinese are present in sufficient numbers in smaller geographical areas, e.g. London, Liverpool, Manchester (thus reducing the difficulties of sampling and locating the Chinese) the process of gaining access and cooperation can still pose a substantial obstacle. Persuading most Chinese to participate in a study is a constant struggle, Some Chinese do not want to express their views; some Chinese struggling in a small family business do not have the time to express their views; and some Chinese do not believe they have views worth expressing.
Wong (1992:6) explicated her reasoning thus:
'Chinese in Britain, are reserved, conservative and complex Many Chinese people are reluctant to reveal their problems as they are afraid of "losing face." Some business proprietors worry that their personal privileges will be interfered with by the government Some Chinese educated professionals and politicians do not want to cooperate with researchers as knowledge of Chinese communities..has become a key to leadership and power It is therefore not surprising that previous research indicates that gaining access to Chinese people is a major problem in conducting research on Chinese communities in Britain'
Social ties however, have proved useful under such circumstances in negotiating access and cooperation. Consequently in several studies there was the bias resulting from the researchers” utilisation of social networks, for instance to supplement figures or to increase the response rates, exemplified by the Commission For Racial Equality survey where the interviewers' contacts were used; also O'Neill's heavy reliance on informal contacts; and Tan's inclusion of personal friends in that study (Taylor, 1987:302).
In my research study it was eventually decided that postal questionnaire survey method would be distributed in a social network using a snowballing technique. According to Burgess the snowballing technique 'involves using a small group of informants who [are] asked to put the researcher in touch with their friends...then asking them about their friends...until a chain of informants has been selected' (1984:55).
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