Gatekeeper

A person who controls a researcher’s access to a group or setting, such as a headteacher who permits research in a school.

A person or organisation that controls a researcher's access to participants, a setting or information.

A gatekeeper controls entry to a setting or contact with participants. A headteacher may control access to a school; an employer may control access to a workplace. A gatekeeper might refuse permission, restrict the times when research can happen or allow interviews but not observation.

Apply your explanation to the research setting. For school research, name the headteacher as a possible gatekeeper and explain how refusal would affect the study.

Do not assume that permission from a headteacher or other gatekeeper replaces participants’ own informed consent.

Identify who controls access, then explain how their decision affects the research. Naming a headteacher alone does not explain the role of a gatekeeper.

A media owner or professional who influences what material is published or broadcast and how it is presented.

A person who has the power to allow, limit or refuse a researcher’s access to participants or a research setting.

A gatekeeper is someone who can allow, limit or refuse that access. For example, a headteacher may control a researcher’s access to pupils during the school day, while a manager may control access to employees in a workplace. Gatekeepers matter because researchers cannot assume that they are free to enter an organisation and study the people there.

A person who controls access to a research setting or potential participants, such as a headteacher.

A person or organisation that controls access to research opportunities, resources or participants.

A person who controls or helps a researcher gain access to a group or setting.

Definition

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AQA GCSE Sociology · 8192

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Eduqas GCSE Sociology · C200