Szelekció, defenzivitás, pozicionalitás
Selection, defensivity, positionality

Some methodological problems of studying the elite as a hard to reach group

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents the methodological challenges of studying the elite as a hard to reach population through a case study on the Hungarian cultural elite. Based on a literature review and the case study I identify three main methodological challenges: sampling, (item) non-response and problems of the interview situation. I present problems resulting from the operationalisation of the target group, the defensiveness of the elite and the researcher’s positionality in a divided elite. Solutions offered in the paper - such as nonprobability sampling methods, different techniques for raising response rates and reflections on positionality – could be useful in studying other hard-to-reach groups as well. Nevertheless, studying a population that has relatively low numbers and which is hard to convince to participate requires an extended time frame and higher resource costs.

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