Research methods

Question 1

Violent Crime

Answer 1

Ethics-
Dangerous- MAYNARD forced to leave. PATRICK axe.
WALKGATE- Minimise risk by putting Qs in plastic bag not briefcase
Confidentiality

Practical-
Hard to observe as violence unpredictable, most studies retrospective.
CRAWFORD_ victims of violent crime less likely to agree for an interview.

Question 2

Domestic Violence

Answer 2

Underrepresented in official stats and victim surveys: DOBASH AND DOBASH- 109 semi struc interviews. 3200 assaults, 517 reported.

Ethics-
sensitive issue.
need safe venue
need reciprocal gain & confidentiality.

Practical

• Few sampling frames, D&D use Edinburgh refuge but unrepresentative.
• Cannot observe
• Few wittnesses.

Question 3

Corporate Crime

Answer 3

Underrepresented
Complex and needs huge resources to research
Diffusion of impact and diffusion of responsibility means hard to research.
Powerful groups can easily redefine, claim no harm to a person.

Question 4

Victims of Crime

Answer 4

Practical-
Hidden
Desirability effect means may fabricate
Victim may be hidden as: Do not know they are victim; reject victim label or may have been involved in the offence.
Retrospective- BCS = 12mnths

ETHICS-

may have different view to researcher (therapy)
Vulnerable
Confidentiality

Question 5

SOCIETAL REACTION

Answer 5

Practical -
Media has lots of data but time consuming.
Hard to find representative sample.
Deviancy or amplified hard to know- researchers misinterpret
Hard to track creation of NEWS and moral panics.

Question 6

SUICIDE

Answer 6

Ethics-
Sensitive
PRACTICAL-
Absence of main actor
Retrospective.
Pressure to redefine suicide
ATKINSON- Coroners interpret differently.
Trail of docs fro coroners.

Question 7

COURTS AND LEGAL PROFESSION

Answer 7

Court = Public but tedious and complex
Power means can refrain from being observed but also need for transparency helps claims.
Lots of data on legal procedures
Decision making private - cannot question jurors. Lawyers decisions made in Judges chambers.

Question 8

Prison

Answer 8

Practical

• Boredom means researcher actions acutely observed
• Few roles to adopt so have to be overt.
• Closed Setting.

ACCESS

• Hierarchal need lots of permissions.
• DAVIES- Prison managers try to use blocking techniques to make leave as dislike disruption of routine.
• Captive population: easy to find and low refusal rate.
• If high security, low access. Also prison routine effects prisoner availability.

ETHICS
Dangerous- Hostage
MARTIN- Issue if staff or prisoners reveal guilty knowledge
Too sympathetic

THEORETICAL
no one institute will be representative (Men/Women, Young/Old,high risk/low risk). No typical of wider public

Question 9

POLICE

Answer 9

Practical
- Easy sampling
HOLDWAY- detached from mainstream, solidarity in ranks - Protective shield.
Familiar with research process
High impression management skills.
REINER- Some areas ie political views off limits

ACCESS
Scattered
May refuse, access to senior officials hard - Reiner 10yrs. Home office spy. 
Hierarchy may mean forced to comply.
Easy to identify, hard to define.

Question 10

Young Offenders

Answer 10

Ethics-
Vunerable as less power
MAGUIRE - Need to put at ease, never uses tape recorder.

Practical-
Hostile to authority
harder to fit in with group, seen as an infomer/authority figure.
Sampling hard as cannot use electorate.
Hard to create questions as typical underachievers so lang not as good.

Theoretical
PARKER- likely to become sympathetic. Invalid.