Chapter 5. Knowledge acquisition for quality engagement

We explore how qualitative researchers acquire relevant knowledge and develop situational competence that facilitates their research practice in the field. We draw on both literature sources and our own practice to elicit recommendations related to preparation for entry into the field, cultural values, and language. We highlight the need to report these preparatory steps in research accounts, so as to help other researchers understand how work was done. We also reflect on how the research context influences the research interactions: as researchers, we need to be situationally aware of many contextual details that might seem trivial or unimportant to insiders yet that can facilitate a nuanced understanding of a situation by outsiders.