Qualitative Social Work www.sagepublications.com DOI:10.1177/1473325009358228 Gaining and Maintaining Access Exploring the Mechanisms that Support and Challenge the Relationship between

Gatekeepers occupy increasingly important positions within qualitative social work research and their engagement with research is crucial to the ongoing development of a useable knowledge base. However, while some studies have hinted at the mechanisms that support and challenge the relation-ship between gatekeepers and researchers, there is a paucity of systematic research concerning how these relationships can be maintained more effectively for all concerned. This article aims to develop the literature in this respect by examining how researchers in the child and families research arena (n = 13) understand the mechanisms that support and challenge the engagement of gatekeepers. Several mechan-isms that support engagement are identified. These are: political representation, civic and moral responsibility to engage, and the identification of good practice. Similarly, a number of mechanisms that can challenge engagement are also explored. These include: methodology, representation, intrusion, and, disruption. These results are discussed in relation to the current developments within the field of qualitative social work that have seen a rise in collectivized responses to research requests. KEY WORDS: access fieldwork outcomes politics representation samplin