本研究採用深度訪談的研究方法採訪了十二位現職或曾在大陸報刊工作過的調查新聞記者，並援引「驯服」（Taming）與「反抗」（Resistance）的理論分析在調查記者工作時的馴服與反抗策略。研究發現，大陸中央政府、地方政府甚至包括商業機構，都試圖馴服對調查記者；但記者也會在選題、採訪、報道、發表等一系列調查性新聞創作中產生反抗策略。

This study employed in-depth interview as its research method to interview 12 people who work or worked as an investigative reporter in newspaper or magazines in mainland China. By adopting taming and resistances theory, the result shows that central government, local government, and even business organizations all tend to tame investigative reporter during their news production process. However, reporters also employ certain strategies to minimize the negative political and economic consequences of their reporting.