ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some of the opportunities and challenges scholars might face when using Collective Memory Work (CMW). It presents excerpts from a discussion where Harrison Oakes interviewed Corey W. Johnson about the common elements of CMW as he was planning for his own dissertation project. The chapter discusses the structure and elements of reflexivity in CMW. Reflexivity is an integral part of CMW. In line with social constructionist research, documenting one's subjectivities is central to CMW. Memory selection is a critical component of CMW because memories form the foundation of the data a researcher will collect. The chapter explains the basic requirements of CMW samples and refers the reader to a list of considerations when selecting a sample. Sample recruitment in CMW comes with the entire participant-related difficulties researchers encounter with other qualitative methodologies. Corey explains to Harrison what obstacles researchers may encounter while recruiting specifically for a CMW study, and how to problem-solve innovatively.
