Large Japanese corporations have usually been researched according to one out of
five main approaches. This short paper presents and discusses some dilemmas
which emerged from a small research project where the first approach, access
through the ‘front door’ by direct contact with the corporation's high-level
representatives, was combined with direct contact and interviews with regular
employees. The dilemmas are presented and discussed in view of the discussion
within sociological methodology regarding research on sensitive topics,
conditional access and relationship with gatekeepers.
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