Research - approaching people

[franch]

Has anyone here who's not a published/produced writer approached people for research? Are people willing to open up to someone who can't yet call themselves a professional?

Also interested in how you've found relevant people and how you've approached them?

franch - I am published but when I was writing my first book I just emailed people. Some got back to me, some didn't. The police were very good and invited me in to have a look around and speak to some officers.
Some children's organisations never even bothered to reply.

Thanks litchick. I really need to watch/shadow people as well as talking to them and some of the areas I'm looking at are a bit sensitive - surely as far as they're concerned I could be anybody, just taking the p*ss.