ABSTRACT
Engaging in research on ‘Racialists’ and NRMs is fraught with possible physical and
emotional dangers for the researcher. These dangers are directly related to several
stages of the qualitative research process: participating in covert or overt research,
gaining access, negotiating roles, involvement, and presenting research. While these
issues are a feature of all qualitative research, the structural and emotional nature of
extremist groups heightens the difficulty and danger. In the past, researchers have
undertaken covert research among extremist groups under the guise of law
enforcement or mass media (Thompson 1988). However, being perceived as a member
of either institution can limit a researcher’s access to data in terms of observation of
internal interactions or even demonstrations and protests (e.g. Klan rallies). Given the
particulars of extremist organization and belief, the most effective and ethical
approach is as an overt, known researcher. In this way organizations under study can
verify the identity of the researcher as a genuine academic who is interested in the topic.
It has been our experience that the known researcher builds a rapport with extremists
