| Summary: | Background: Difficulties in recruiting people with intellectual disability to actively participate in research is a recurring topic of discussion
that has been minimally investigated. Capturing this issue and its depth is essential to involving people with intellectual disability in research. Method: Semi- structured interviews were utilised to obtain perspectives of recruitment from 12 academic researchers with substantial experience in the field. Data were analysed using Straussian grounded theory. Results: The core category was ‘Recruitment: It ’ s challenging’, informed by seven categories; differentiation of people with intellectual disability as a research population, lived experience of researchers, gatekeeping,
ethical considerations, research design, collaboration, and rapport. Conclusions: Researchers developed and employed strategies over time and experience in response to recruitment challenges. These
strategies largely focused upon creating, strengthening and supporting a connection between themselves and people with intellectual disability. There is potential for future investigation and further development of strategies to improve recruitment.
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