Getting Past the Gatekeepers: Differences Between Access and Cooperation in Public School Research

This article describes differences in access and cooperation in four qualitative research studies in public schools. Gatekeepers grant formal access but withhold cooperation if they think studies threaten them or their schools. Project approval by official gatekeepers does not guarantee cooperation from informal gatekeepers and participants. The author describes gatekeepers' practices to grant or withhold access and cooperation and the influence of perceived benefits and threats to cooperation. The article concludes with lessons from these research experiences that may lead to more cooperative relationships between researchers and gatekeepers.