Researching Difficult Populations: Interviewing Techniques and Methodological Issues in Face-to-Face Interviews in the Study of Organized Crime

Abstract

Systematic research in the field of organized crime is challenging. The topic, however, offers a unique opportunity to utilize an interdisciplinary research methodology. This Chapter evaluates employed methodologies, sampling strategies and interviewing techniques in the study of organized crime. It provides a personal account of the fieldwork and survey experience, and it addresses issues critical to the proper design and successful implementation of various quantitative and qualitative methods in the study of organized crime. Non-probability and probability sampling techniques including purposive, snowball and cluster sampling are discussed, as well the proper use of distinctive research methods such as face-to-face interviews and focus groups. The Chapter elaborates on methodological challenges when researching difficult populations and argues that researchers working in this field should make use of secondary data in order to compare their empirical findings.