Smith, A. orcid.org/0000-0002-7524-9359 and McBride, J. (2019) Accessing 'hard to reach groups' and emotions in the research process : 'work an honest day and get the usual raw deal'. In: Wheatley, D., (ed.) Handbook of Research Methods on the Quality of Working Lives. Handbooks of Research Methods in Management . Edward Elgar , Cheltenham, UK , pp. 95-108. ISBN 9781788118767
Abstract
There is growing interest in issues of low-pay, insecure work and job quality from academics, policy-makers, employers and trade unions. Our research critically examines the work experiences and work–life ‘balance’ complexities of low-paid workers who have to work in more than one job in order to make ends meet. The research findings highlight issues over limited incomes, job insecurity and low-trust employment relations, together with long, complex and fragmented working time arrangements. In this chapter, we detail the qualitative research design employed and the practicalities of accessing a ‘hard to reach group’ of workers. Researching these workers involved working with trade unions, poverty organisations and community groups, whilst using snowball sampling strategies to arrange interviews with low-paid workers with two, three, four, five, six, and even seven different jobs. We also assess the difficulties for both the researchers and participants in uncovering emotive and sensitive issues around the indignity of work, low-pay, job insecurity and well-being issues.
Metadata
Item Type: | Book Section |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Editors: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Daniel Wheatley. |
Keywords: | Qualitative research; Low-paid workers; Multiple employment; Emotions; 'Hard to reach groups' |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Management School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 22 Jun 2022 09:23 |
Last Modified: | 22 Jun 2022 09:23 |
Published Version: | https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-resea... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Edward Elgar |
Series Name: | Handbooks of Research Methods in Management |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.4337/9781788118774.00013 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:187960 |