Research Methods Final Exam Study Guide Chapter 9 Survey Research Survey a data collection method that applies a standard instrument to take measure from a large number of units asking people about victimization reports dominant methods that reports prevalence and frequency Most frequent use of observation 1 Counting crime 2 Self 3 Perception and attitudes 4 Targeted victim services 5 General purpose crime surveys Include a respondent Types of questions Open ended vs close ended o Should be exhaustive and mutually exclusive Questionnaire instrument to elicit information for analysis o Items must be clear o Short o Avoid negative o Avoid bias measurement that produces misrepresentation o Contingency Questions their previous response o Matrix Questions Same set of answer categories used by multiple questions Relevant only to some respondents answered only based on Computer assisted interviewing use of computers to record answers Self administered questioners Response rate number of people who respond can be taken at home mailed Interview Survey face to face are used for more complex questions 3 methods 1 Self administered questionnaires 2 3 Telephone survey In person interview Surveys have high reliability and generalizability but low validity Specialized interviews Focus groups are helpful Chapter 10 Field Research Field research is typically associated with qualitative techniques 1 Make direct observation 2 Ask questions Field research is best when studying something in natural setting Ethnography report on social life description rather than explanation Reactivity subjects being affected by their roles as observers Snowball sampling sampling based on recommendations of others 1 Find a Sponsor 2 Write a letter 3 Phone call 4 Arrange a meeting Recording your observations 1 Cameras 2 Field Notes 3 Structured observation Qualitative interview based on a set of topics to be discussed instead of standardized questions How to gain access to observe formal organizations a Environmental survey structured outline of systematic way to record observations Safety Audit careful inventory of specific environmental and situational factors that may contribute to feelings of discomfort Validity is strength of field research but reliability and generalizability are weaknesses Chapter 11 Agency Records and Secondary Data Agency records and secondary data do not require direct interaction with research subjects Secondary Analysis research where data is collected from one researcher but reanalyzed by another Types of agency records 1 Published statistics 2 Nonpublic agency records 3 New data collected for specific research purposes Published statistics compilation of data published by government researchers Crime hot spots geographic and time spatial data of when and where certain crimes occur Researchers must be especially attentive to the units of agency records particularly in selecting samples for analysis Understanding details of how agency records are produced is the best guard against reliability and validity problems Social Production of data data reflect organization processes and decisions in addition to the condition measured Error increases with volume Content analysis study of recorded communications systematic study of messages Manifest content visible surface content Latent content underlying meaning Data collected by other researchers is often used to address new research questions Sources of secondary data 1 Interuniversity consortium for political and social research central repository of machine readable data collected by social science researchers 2 National Archive of Criminal Justice Data established by BJS Chapter 12 Evaluation research and problem analysis Evaluation Research program evaluation refers to a research purpose instead of a method Problem Analysis analytic method to help officials plan and select alternative actions Justice agencies rely on evidence based policies where their actions are linked to evidence of planning and evaluation Problem analysis and evaluation are used to develop justice policy and determine its impact Problem analysis wants to answer o 1 Are policies being implemented as planned o 2 Are policies achieving their intended goals Impact assessment determines if the program achieved its intended results Process evaluation evaluation to determine whether a program was implemented as intended Learning policy goals is first step in doing evaluation research Stakeholders persons and organizations with a direct interest in a program Designs used in basic research are readily adapted for use in evaluation research Treatment integrity is whether an experimental intervention is delivered as intended Problem analysis and scientific realism helps public officials use research to select and assess alternative courses of action Problem oriented policing a policing strategy that involves the identification and analysis of specific crime and disorder problems in order to develop effective response strategies in conjunction with ongoing assessment Problem Solving 1 Define specific problem 2 Conduct in depth analysis to understand causes 3 Search for solutions to remove these causes and bring lasting reductions to these problems 4 Evaluate success Hartley Reader Ch 7 Intro Survey research US census is self report survey Response rate is a limitation Veracity of self report is a limitation Face to Face interview is best survey method Reading Decker Katz and Webb p 244 Interview 2 samples of juveniles in Arizona detentions facilities to examine gang structure Built off of previous research that o 1 gangs are not well organized o 2 gang organization does not affect their behavior Hypothesize that better organized gangs are more involved in crime ADAM Data uses face to face interviews Positive conclusion that gang organization is related to level of crime involvement Ch 8 Intro Qualitative research involves collecting data through your senses with interaction of subjects o Roots in anthropology o Ethnography Complete observing involves observing without disturbing Focus groups involve group discussions Case studies involve in depth research Miller Reconsidering the least used method p 270 Covert participation is least used but most effective because of interest to researchers Similar to goals of other observational methods Ethics with deception of who the researcher is observing and law enforcement scrutiny Best example is tea room trade study Ch 9 Intro Unobtrusive
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