Sponsors are often a good way for researcher's to gain entrance to a group - especially if the sponsor has a relatively high status within the group - because other group members are less likely to show hostility to the researcher if their presence is both explained and justified by the sponsor.

An example of sponsorship is William Whyte's "Street Corner Society" in which he observed the activities and behaviour of an American Street gang. Although a lot older than the gang members, Whyte was accepted by them because his presence was explained and protected by his friendship with the gang's leader, "Doc".