Finding the rainbow: reflections upon recruiting openly gay men for qualitative research

Abstract

It has been suggested that greater attention needs be paid to the methods used when engaging in research with gay men, including enhanced focus on methods of recruitment. Pursuant to that argument, this manuscript reflects upon the methods of recruitment used in research about gay men, and the importance of recruitment with regards to research validity and reliability. It is argued that recruitment is best conceptualised as a dynamic process which influences the entire research program, rather than a static event, as recruitment is often characterised in the literature. The authors then engage in a critical self-reflection regarding the recruitment methods used in their body of research about gay men. Issues related to cyber-recruitment, emic and etic, and inclusion criteria are discussed.