Suchergebnisse

Social research can be studied as a social system involving the researcher, the sponsors, & the people or organizations being studied (the hosts). In comparative research, such field problems as gaining acceptance can be studied as a natural experiment among the participants of the research social system. 7 studies are examined with an analytic framework to highlight the political dynamics among the parties. In all cases, distrust of the researchers was ubiquitous & they had to bargain continuously with different parties to enable the research process to continue. The 7 studies are analyzed as case histories dealing with the politics of distrust in field operations. Although some variables affecting the relationships among researchers, sponsors, & hosts were culturally specific, others were common to the type of organizations being studied. In the research social system which arose while studying automobile factories in the US, Italy, Argentina, & India, the climate of union-management relations was decisive. Strategies for overcoming distrust are suggested & a plea is made for researchers to study social research as they study other social systems. AA.