Strategic Dilemmas of Policy Research
Which informants should be approached when?
Approach relatively early:
Person who likely to facilitate your search for rich information source:
Powerful persons who directly or by your reputed connection with them will facilitate your access to source;
Knowledgeable person, who will provide you with the information you need to hedge against premature political exposure of your work, and whose information will contribute to your capacity to exert leverage against defensive interviewees;
Friendly experts, who will contribute to your political credibility in case of premature political exposure;
Potential opponents, with whom you touch base in order to hedge against premature political exposure.