Documents Flashcards
Documents- Theoretical
POSITIVISTS
unrepresentative
Unreliable as not standardised
INTERPRETIVISTS
Give valid picture of actor meanings
THOMAS + ZNAWEICKI - The polish peasant in Europe and America. Studied why migrate. 764 letters received after paper ad.
SCOTT
Lack of validity
forged? Written for publication? Written ages after event? Misinterpreted?
lack of representativeness
saved not typical of lost
ignore those with no time or ability to write
Gov docs kept secret for 30yrs or if official secret not revealed.
Methods in Context- Practical
Some crimes ie graffiti leave documentary evidence. but if White.C crime hard to follow. That saved not typical of destroyed.
CJS leaves lots of paperowrk and home office comission lots of crime research. hihgly accessible, but that non accessible not typical of accessible. Disproportionate focus on street crime.
Lots of leaflests and posters on crime.
Documents may ome from unexected places VENKATASH- T-Bone bookeeper give copy of accounts.
Methods in context- Theoretical
Reliability- not standardised (degree in official docs)
Representativeness- those available not typical of those unavailable. Won’t leave incriminating evidence.
Ethics
If official doc- dispute over ownership
Anonymity key
Validity
rely on sources that reflect gov and CJS view on crime more than anything else.
Criminal autobiographies too nostalgic- BUT highlight values
BRAITHWAITE- Triangulate to counter validity issues. Used interviews alongside official docs in corporate crime study.
Methods in context- Media Documents.
Coverage of crime research:
HOLLAND- Researched leisure, portrayed as boozy Bob and respondents deviant.
Media Docs:
Distorted view of crime reflecting news values. Topic in itself.
Documents - Practical
:)
Time saving
Maybe only source if studying past
Free and readily available.
:(
Access may be hard
May not directly address research topic.
