Participant Observation in Criminology

What are some of the reasons that criminologists conduct research? Discuss using specific examples covered in the module.

Criminologists play a crucial and essential role in the criminal justice system by researching on the social and psychological factors that cause people to commit crimes. This helps criminologists to identify important links between social, environmental, biological factors that lead to crime. This can lead to identification of rehabilitation strategies also that can be used for policy development. Criminologists also work with various law enforcement agencies, where their research on what strategies are working and what are not working in the area of crime control and deviance control can be helpful.

What are the key differences between qualitative and Quantitative research?

The key differences in qualitative and quantitative research relate to the method of research and the purpose of research. Qualitative approach is subjective, as opposed to quantitative research which is objective (Collis & Hussey, 2009). Generally speaking, qualitative research may be focused on theory building and quantitative research may be focussed on theory testing (Opoku, et al., 2016). In other words, qualitative research is generally deductive oriented and the quantitative approach is inductive oriented (Opoku, et al., 2016). At times however, both qualitative and quantitative research may involve either inductive and deductive processes (Collis & Hussey, 2009). The purpose of qualitative research may be to gain more insight into other people’s lives and behaviour patterns if credible and reliable, shown in research such as Gang Leader for a day (Babbie, 2016). On the other hand, quantitative research may be in the nature of statistical analysis. Qualitative research uses methods such as interviews and ethnographic research, which allow a continual link between interplay between theory and analysis resulting in the grounded theory method. Grounded theory method was introduced by Barney Glaser and Anselem Strauss, comparing applicable incidents to the category of research then integrating the categories with properties.

Quantitative research uses methods that allow collecting of data through research tools calculated into numerical form. Data is coded into different categories through statistical analysing, given number representations in the form of percentages and contingency tables. There are many of ways of analysis and coding including bivariate analysis, univariate analysis and quantitative analysis and the discrete and continuous variable in the data, example of quantitative research includes the yearly governments annual housing surveys.

Choose one research method common with qualitative research and discuss its strengths and weaknesses

One method of qualitative analysis common with qualitative research is participant observation as used in Sudhir Venkatesh Gang Leader for a day book; this involves a graduate student conducting research based on professors in Chicago. The book explores the different perspectives on gangs where the researcher has conducted the research by joining the gang and following their behaviour, activities and daily lives; the research took 9 years. There can be positive aspects of participant observation including really getting to understand and gaining more knowledge in the field of research from the researchers perspective (Parke & Griffiths, 2008 ). Participant observation is usually unstructured and favoured by interpretivist sociologists as it creates validity of how people really live and helps researchers gain insight into values, problems and view points of the subjects creating an authentic data (Parke & Griffiths, 2008 ). Participant observation is very flexible, if something interesting happens the researcher can change the direction or idea of the research by changing their theory, extend their research or change the individual or group they are studying (Jorgensen, 2015). Another advantage includes being able to access and collect data on more dangerous and closed participants that would otherwise not feel as open to talk about their lives and experiences (Parke & Griffiths, 2008 ). This can also be a disadvantage especially when during a covert observation as the researcher can become close to dangerous situations and there are major risk factors such as getting beaten, killed and robbed. Venkatesh writes that one of the disadvantages of this method is that it includes small sample sizes which can make it time consuming and difficult to generalise the data. Also shown in Gang Leader for a day is that Venkatesh rarely takes notes in front of JT to ensure he wasn’t caught; but this means that he cannot accurately remember information and the data can be unreliable at certain points (Venkatesh, 2009). Participant research is time consuming with research usually taking years to complete. Covert observations raise ethical difficulties as there is arisk of participating in illegal activities during the research as well as not being honest in the methods used to gain information from the subjects. This can create stress and high risk factors for the researcher. Another cause for concern is bias data if the researcher becomes too involved, sympathising and relating with the group therefore giving biased information.

​What is a literature review and why is it an important part of the research process?

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A literature review is a method of qualitative research, which allows the researcher to collect data from available research, conduct further critical research on the topic or theory to understand what is already known, including concepts and theories that have been applied, research methods used, controversies, clashes of evidence and key influencers in the topic. Literature reviews are aimed to assess the significance of others findings and how it may link with the narrative literature (Bryman, 2012). The researcher conducts literature review by researching peer reviewed journal articles, academic books, and relevant reports (Green, et al., 2011). A literature review is a desk based research method which can be utilised in the library and also using electronic databases (Green, et al., 2011). A literature review is focussed on identifying and appraising high-quality literature, and empirical studies, the analysis of which allows the researcher to collate the studies and literature findings (Bettany-Saltikov, 2012).

The component review of reading and understanding the work of others in the same field gives a deeper level of understanding as the researcher can then venture further into avenues of the area which are not yet explored, which then exposes gaps in the existing research which can be filled by the researcher’s study (Crowther-Dowey & Fussey, 2013). Extended literature reviews can be an appropriate approach if gaining access to fieldwork is challenging, although sometimes literature can also be difficult to access. This can happen it the research topic is ethically sensitive such as child abuse.

Bibliography

Babbie, E., 2016. The Practice of Social Research fourteenth edition. USA Boston.

Bettany-Saltikov, J., 2012. How To Do A Systematic Literature Review In Nursing: A Step-By-Step Guide: A Step by Step Guide. London : Mc Graw and Hill.

Bryman, A., 2016. Social Research Methods fifth edition. Oxford UK.

Collis, J. & Hussey, R., 2009. Business Research: A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students. London: Palgrave Macmillon.

Crowther-Dowey, C. and Fussey, V., 2013. Researching crime:approaches, methods and applications. London, UK.

Green, S. et al., 2011. Introduction. In: J. P. T. Higgins & S. Green, eds. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions . London: John Wiley and Sons.

Jorgensen, D. L., 2015. Participant observation. Emerging trends in the social and behavioral sciences: An interdisciplinary, searchable, and linkable resource, pp. 1-15.

Opoku, A., Ahmed, V. & Akotia, J., 2016. Choosing Appropriate Methodology and Method. In: V. Ahmed, A. Opoku & Z. Aziz, eds. Research Methodology in the Built Environment: A Selection of Case Studies . Oxon: Routledge, pp. 32-50.

Parke, J. & Griffiths, M., 2008 . Participant and non-participant observation in gambling environments. Enquire , 1(1), pp. 1-14.

Venkatesh, S.A., 2009. Gang Leader for a day. USA.