Getting the Numbers: The Unacknowledged Work in Recruiting for Survey Research

This article reflects on the work of recruiting participants for survey research. Published accounts in this area frequently neglect complex and time-consuming elements of the recruiting process. These are negotiating access with gatekeepers, negotiating the cooperation of participants, and emotional engagement in the recruitment process. This article describes these processes through the example of recruiting nonprofessional young workers for a survey on sex, drugs, and drinking. The challenges of recruiting for a quantitative study where there is limited rather than prolonged engagement in the field are examined in detail, and strategies for overcoming recruitment barriers are offered.