Overcoming challenges in qualitative inquiry within a conservative society

•Reflects on a methodological challenge in studying a conservative society.•Proposes that identifying barriers is essential before accepting data saturation.•Highlights some of the barriers identified in the literature and during study.•Emphasizes that barriers may be overcome with proper strategies.•Recommends several suitable and potentially useful strategies.

This research note looks at issues of interpretation when undertaking qualitative research. The context of the study is Socotra Island, Yemen, a generally conservative country. It questions the thinking that data saturation ‘depends’ on context, particularly in a conservative society such as that in Socotra Island, Yemen. It argues that within a conservative society ruled by tribal cultures, beliefs and traditions, researchers should consider the fact that the lack of participation could be the result of several factors other than what be narrowly defined cultural reasons. These other factors include a lack of understanding and hence disinterest to participate, negative experiences with previous researchers, and lack of support for the intended outcome of a research project. A few strategies to address the situation are then proposed.