No formal pedagogical culture for research methods (RM) in the social sciences seems to exist and as part of our endeavour to establish such a culture this article reviews current literature about teaching RM and identifies the gaps in the research. Articles in academic journals spanning a 10 year period were collected by searching academic catalogues and compiling a database of 195 articles published in 61 journals. These articles were reviewed and are discussed according to seven themes. Three specific gaps in research are identified that indicate some new agendas for research on teaching RM in the social sciences. The implications for developing a pedagogical culture for RM from the current literature reviewed are discussed.

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This article surveys the literature from 1999 to 2013 on teaching qualitative research methods. One hundred thirteen articles fitted the inclusion criteria; 79 of these were by academics in the United States and Canada. Only 39 of the 113 were based on empirical research: from these, seven descriptive themes were distilled, of which the dominant ones are experiential learning and practice-based materials and workshops. The literature portrayed teaching qualitative research as providing experiential and practice-based learning opportunities for students that revealed its desirable pedagogical features. It further reported that when students engaged in learning experiences, they underwent paradigm shifts about qualitative research as well as personal transformations. Our study confirmed that there is a lack of a research-based approach to teaching qualitative methods and we recommend that more be done to contribute to its pedagogical culture particularly concerning methods used to evaluate instruction, innovative instructional methods, and approaches to assessment.

Gatekeeping is an integral but sometimes difficult part of the research process, particularly for researchers who want to conduct research in indigenous cultures. The author discusses how she gained access into the Muscogee (Creek) culture to conduct several research studies. Establishing trusting, long-term relationships through social networking, acquiring specific permissions at various levels, selecting key informants, presenting oneself appropriately, and showing respect for cultural mores are essential aspects of being granted entry by gatekeepers.

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