Methodological challenges in interviewing classic professionals within a declining socio-economic environment

Abstract

The article draws upon the experiences obtained by the researcher with regards to the interviews conducted with chartered accountants, engineers and legal practitioners as professionals in Zimbabwe. Three arguments inform this article. Engaging professionals as research participants has its methodological challenges, professionals in an unstable socio-economic environment attach less value to research, especially when the research interferes with time for clients and lastly, power dynamics are tilted in favour of the participants. Previous studies have focused on corporate elites, political and intellectual elites in stable socio-economic environments, and less if any have focused on elite classic professionals in a socially and economically unstable environment. In addition to findings of previous studies, it has been established that professionals in a declining socio-economic environment prioritise clients who are scarce to come by and attach less value to research. This led to the abortion of many appointments. Some sessions were cancelled or shortened as participants received communications of availability of some scarce products such as bread, cash or fuel. Participants could not allocate time solely for an interview session as they continued engaging with their work, at times even hurrying the researcher through to accommodate work related assignments. Social capital and referrals can be used to address the challenges associated with classic professionals as participants.