When Would Different Research Methods be Appropriate in Criminal Justice and Security Management Research
Introduction
The social sciences employ three main types of research methodologies: qualitative research, quantitative research, and mixed-methods research. Qualitative research is a catch-all term that describes field research within social settings (Saint-Germain, 2002). It does not have a control group or require the researchers to impose variables and is not going to be sufficient to establish causation. However, qualitative research is excellent at providing descriptions of behavior. While qualitative research is descriptive, quantitative research is predictive. It makes predictions known as hypotheses, tests those hypotheses, and attempts to establish cause and effect (Xavier, 2012). Mixed-methods research, as its name implies, employs a mixture of qualitative and quantitative elements in its research design. Generally, a mixed methods approach is appropriate when a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, together, provide a better understanding of research (Fischler, 2012). The combined fields of criminal justice and security management provide a number of different opportunities for social science research. Some of these areas of research clearly warrant a qualitative approach. Examples where this might be applicable would be in the study of small groups of individuals where it is impossible to control variables and test hypotheses, such as
The book conveyed criminology defined as the study of crime and a social science that shares characteristics with sociology. People in the field of criminology are the information seekers who look for the reason behind why crimes are committed. They also look at not only how the crimes are committed but how they can be stopped. Criminology involves research and study. These studies should help create more effective responses to crime. The criminal justice study is focused on how the law is made and enforced. Criminal justice also goes over how those crimes are punished. It studies how the justice system works at all of the phases, from the moment a crime is reported, to police, the courts, and corrections. Criminal justice studies center on what happens after a crime is committed and how the legal system functions when it is in authorizing, enforcing laws that the crime may have broken, punishing offenders of that law, and responding to victims of the
Qualitative research is subjective data and is often used in the social sciences (Sarantakos 2013, p. 48). Qualitative research is devoted to gathering facts, this can be completed through personal experiences, behaviours, and observations (Sarantakos 2013, p. 46). The purpose of qualitative research is to gather an in depth understanding of human behaviour and the explanations for the behaviour (Martijn & Sharpe 2006, p. 1). An issue with only using a qualitative method is efficacy, qualitative studies cannot address relationships between variables with the degree of accuracy that is required to establish social trends (Sarantakos 2013, p. 46).
This paper summarizes four theories of criminology. Rational choice theory states that criminals act based on a thought process that weighs the pros and cons of criminality. Criminologists who believe in this theory feel that most criminals are people capable of having rational thoughts before committing a crime. Trait theory is the view of criminology that suggests criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits. Criminologists who believe in this theory feel that criminals choose to commit crime because of a brain anomaly or chemical imbalance. Social structure theory is “a view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime” (Seigel 139). Those who follow this theory often believe social forces can have a great effect on whether or not a person commits a crime. An example would be those who are poor are more being more prone to commit crime. Social process theory is a view that criminality depends on how a person interacts with different organizations and institutions and processes in society. For example, a family would be considered
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
According to Yilmaz (2013) there exist two significant approaches to research with respect to studying the social and individual world. According to Creswell (2014) three types of design quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods should remain in consideration when choosing a research designs at the start of the process. The two methods exist a quantitative and
The results of article two used the mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative data. “Mixed methods research is an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative forms. It involves philosophical assumptions, the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the mixing of both approaches in a study. Thus, it is more than simply collecting and analyzing both kinds of data; it also involves the use of both approaches in tandem so that the overall strength of a study is great than either qualitative or quantitative research.” (Creswell, 2007). The authors used their research to answer their research question;
The assignment is based on a scenario that I have been hired as a consultant by the local police commissioner to lend my expertise on criminal justice research. On the other hand this is for educational resources for the police captains who will be developing a new citywide crime prevention strategy. In addition to the resources that will be discussed are the key differences between deductive, inductive, grounded, and axiomatic research theories. However, there are differences and similarities between the theories and hypothesis that will also be discussed. Defining the theory is more valid then the other and what are variables will also be included in
This subfield is found most commonly in universities. The text explains two parts of the theoretical approach, general theory and integrated theory (Schmalleger, 2015). It seems that general theory fails to explain the many different areas of criminology, and for these reasons, the integrated theory may be a better option for understanding criminal behavior. An integrated theory brings together a wide array of information from different sources to help describe behavior (Schmalleger, 2015). In addition, theory must be able to be applied to the real world.
Part 1 Weisburd, D., Lum, C., Petrosino, A. (2001). Does Research Design Affect Study Outcomes in Criminal Justice? The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 578 (1): 50-70.
The study of criminology is a complex approach to the criminal justice system that uses preemptive theories as a means to decipher why criminals commit crimes. When law enforcement agents begin to think about criminal behavior in the perspective of the criminal they begin to surface the reasons why an individual would decide to break the law. The study of criminology focuses both root cause of the deviant behavior and the effects that crimes have on society (American Military University, last visited Apr 10, 2018). The primary focuses points of criminology are the locations times and frequency of crimes in relations to consequence and reactions these crimes have on an individual and society as a whole (What is Criminology?, Retrieved April
As a Justice Studies Major, attending San Jose State University, I’ve been exposed to a number issues that frame around law enforcement and social behavior. The issues vary and have prepared me for a variety of careers in federal, state, local criminal justice. As a soon to be graduate that will be receiving a Bachelor’s degree, I feel that I am walking away from this chapter of my life with a significant amount of knowledge. Throughout my academic success, I’ve gained great insight into the Criminal Justice field. Therefore, I will describe my experience at San Jose State University, and what I’ve learned as a justice studies major.
A mixed methods research design is a procedure for collecting, analyzing, and “mixing” both quantitative and qualitative research and methods in a single study to understand a research problem.
Mixed methods research is a research design that includes qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis to provide a better understanding of complex research problems. This method takes the benefit of using multiple ways to explore a research problem in a single or a longitudinal inquiry. The mixed method approach usually has a primary goal, but there are at least two research questions, and each of which requires a different type of approach. The researchers may either ask descriptive questions and affirmative questions in order to examine causative effects in quantitative component, but can clarify on casual instruments in a qualitative component (Polit & Beck, 2014).
Quantitative research is considered to be the use of numbers. In the use of a quantitative study, the researcher test objective theories by examining the conjunction among variables. The variables used can be measured on instruments, so that numbered data can be used and analyzed (Creswell, 2008). Qualitative research is mainly used to explore and understand human or social problems. The process of qualitative studies includes questions and procedures; and the data is collected byway of participant’s settings. It allows the researcher to study an issue in great detail and depth, as well as not allowing data collection to be constrained by predetermined data. Mixed methods research combines quantitative and qualitative methods and it involves philosophical assumptions. This form of study includes collecting and analyzing data from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. It is believed that mixed methods research is a great method for practicing researchers who would like to bridge the schism between quantitative and qualitative research (Onwuegbuzie & Leech, 2004a). Even though these methods are different, they all involve philosophical assumptions and distinct methods or procedures (Cresswell, 2009).
There are three main types of descriptive methods: observational methods, case-study methods and survey methods. This article will briefly describe each of these methods, their advantages, and their drawbacks. This may help you better understand research findings, whether reported in the mainstream media, or when reading a research study on your own.