SOCIAL ENQUIRY METHODS assignment 1

Suppose your sociology instructor has asked you to do a study of homelessness. Which research technique (survey, observation, experiment, existing sources) would you find the most useful? How would you use that technique to complete your assignment?

Homelessness is often accompanied by many other problems such as mental disorders, substance abuse issues, isolation from family and friends, and poor general health. Often time’s people that suffer from homelessness experience a lower quality of life than those who have a place to call home.

Power point slide Qualitative research is a difficult term to define…. Nevertheless, it is important to be familiar with some definitions in the field. The definition provided by Creswell 2009 is enlightening because it incorporates ……….. most important part of definition for me were reports detailed views of informants and natural setting.

In the reading of “Toward a needs-based typology of homeless youth. Journal of Adolescent Health” the schemas was a little different. In the article they look at homeless in youth in four categories. Homeless youth are now widely recognized and accepted in the literature: situational runaways, runaways, throwaways, and systems youth (Coward Bucher, C, 2008)

Researchers are sometimes using Quantitative and Qualitative research methodologies interchangeably, or all three of the methodologies including the mixed approach, Creswell (2009). However, the most distinctive differences between the two is the application used, or the design, using words for qualitative analysis, and

Thus, this method gives a researcher an in-depth understanding of the participants’ experiences using qualitative inquiry to determine the why, when, where, what, and how of the study.

There is definite need for a change to develop policies to aide in the homeless

Research has shown that those who first experience homelessness at a young age are more likely to experience persistent homelessness in adulthood. Homelessness has large costs to the Australian community in terms of health, justice and community services and this cost increases the longer the person has been homelessness. Young people who experience homelessness are more likely to disengage with education and employment ans to be exposed to factors which are detrimental to their health such as drug use, inadequate nutrition, limited access to medical care and school, unsafe sexual encounters and violence. Even though our nation is experiencing its highest level of economic success since the 1970s and the lowest unemployment rates for several decades youth homelessness in Australia has more than

It has been said that “prevention is better than cure” when it comes to youth homelessness. Therefore it is important to combat youth homelessness at an early age because research shows that those who experience homelessness at a young age are more likely to experience homelessness in adulthood. Bobby from Sydney is 45 and has been homeless on and off for the past 3 decades. He says “sleeping on the train is safer that sleeping outside”. He has been doing this for 4 years.

Throughout the years, the definition of homelessness has been interpreted differently throughout different areas of the world. In order to put into perspective as to how much of an issue homelessness

Maxwell (2005) also notes that qualitative research can be used to address various issues and is not restricted to one ontological stance. The method also involves developing a relationship with the people one is studying, an aspect that is important in defining the authenticity of the data and determining the course of action.

The purpose of this study is to comprehend the who, what, why, when, and where of homelessness.

Qualitative research is conducted in a natural setting and attempts to understand a human problem by developing a holistic narrative and reporting detailed views of informants about the culture of a problem. It forms a report with pictures and words. One of the most important distinctions that sets qualitative research apart from more traditional types of research is that qualitative research is holistic in that researchers study phenomena in their entirety rather than narrowing the focus to specific defined variables” (p. 93). Similarly, Cresswell (1984) indicated that qualitative research “is defined as an inquiry process of understanding a social or human problem, based on building a holistic picture, formed with words, reporting detailed views of informants, and conducted in a natural setting” (p. 2). Cresswell’s definition clearly delineates the major characteristics of qualitative research. Pg. 50 (Smith & Davis, 2010).

It will further seek to explore the health issues and health service issues associated with the homeless population. In addition discuss government legislation and reports that are implemented to protect the homeless population and efforts to tackle the issue of homelessness in housing and accessing services. Furthermore, explore the relationship with recent government reform and the rise in homelessness.

Qualitative research is a technique of promoting research that stresses the quality according to the user’s point of view and approaches. In depth interviews and focus groups are best examples of qualitative research. [Laura Lake, 2009]