Organization and Management Research in Transition Economies

Conducting Qualitative Research in Russia: Challenges and Advice

“…A few exceptions have been found that draw attention to challenges in conducting qualitative research in international business Michailova and Liuhto, 2000;Yeung, 1995;Welch et al, 2002;Hunt et al, 1964). Hunt et al (1964) found that cultural differences have distinguishing effects upon an interviewer's success in handling problems with gaining access, co-operation, and respondent candor in their interviews in the United States, Austria, and France.…”

“…He addressed the difficulties related to reaching the correct respondents and gaining access, and described the need to use qualitative research methods to be able to remain flexible and solve possible misunderstandings and misinterpretations when they occur (Yeung, 1995). Michailova and Liuhto (2000) argue that research that is not grounded in a context lacks relevance and validity in both methodological and analytical terms. While they examined problematic methodological difficulties related to gaining access, secrecy and distrust, and use of recording and feedback when conducting research in East European transition economies, they did not address the even more complicating factor of being a foreign researcher coping with these challenges in a foreign cultural context.…”

“…Having less familiarity with foreign organizations than with domestic ones makes identifying and arranging contact with the elites more difficult. While some have claimed that negotiating access is a game of chance, not of skill (Buchanan et al, 1988) Michailova andLiuhto (2000) found in their study of Eastern Europe that succeeding at data collection is not the art of the possible but the art of making the impossible possible. More specifically, they claim that gaining access to respondents in Eastern European countries is not a question of chance, but of knowing how things work in these countries and acting accordingly.…”

“…Lack of systematically collected and filed information needed for identifying potential organizations/respondents may create additional challenges (Michailova, 2004). Eastern European countries lack a systematic system for collecting information at different levels, and have no reliable databases, files, registers, or archives that may provide the preliminary information that the researcher needs at the preaccess stage (Michailova and Liuhto, 2000). When calling organizations/companies, researchers may reach a receptionist who is difficult to get past, or be sent through to many different departments and people in an endless round dance.…”

“…In particularistic cultures, in contrast, there is often an absence of defined legal systems and relationships determine what gets done in business, politics, and society (Michailova and Hutchings, 2006). Forming personal networks is essential for gaining access in Russia (Michailova and Liuhto, 2000). According to Michailova and Liuhto (2000), the researcher's informal networks, such as those composed of family and friends, is sometimes the only option for identifying respondents in the field and gaining access in Eastern European countries such as Russia.…”