Two research projects to study the prevalence of byssinosis in Hong Kong and Jakarta were conducted. Both projects had similar objectives and design. Although the studies were conducted within the agreed upon guidelines, it became obvious that there were differences in the methods of implementation due to the researchers' attempts to overcome local obstacles. Many factors were found to influence the implementation of a research proposal: local culture and customs, business practices, factory management, availability of local information, and the prevalence of the disease being studied. Provided that these factors are understood and taken into account, the comparability of results should not be substantially affected.