CRM2205

Why are Research Methods Important?

Research methods help separate factual, tested knowledge from opinions, assumptions, or unverified claims and they ensure that decisions and policies are based on evidence rather than guesswork.

What are the TYPICAL STAGES OF RESEARCH

• Developing a Research Question

• Conducting a Literature Review

• Designing the Research

• Collecting Data

• Selecting an Analytic Approach

• Generating Findings, Conclusions, and Policy Implications

What is the ESSENTIAL ROLE OF ETHICS IN RESEARCH

Ethics play a critical role in research by ensuring that studies are conducted responsibly, fairly, and without harm to participants. Ethical guidelines help maintain the integrity, credibility, and reliability of research findings.

What was the Belmont Report

outlines ethical principles for research involving human subjects, ensuring their protection. It emphasizes three core principles: Respect for Persons (informed consent and autonomy), Beneficence (minimizing harm and maximizing benefits), and Justice (fair distribution of research risks and benefits). These principles guide ethical research practices and are foundational for regulations like Institutional Review Boards (IRBs).

HOW TO IDENTIFY A RESEARCH TOPIC

Find a subject about which you are intellectually curious as well as a subject you are eager to investigate to develop greater knowledge.

4 Types of research

Descriptive research, Exploratory research, explanatory research, evaluation research

What makes a good RESEARCH QUESTION

A well-constructed research question provides focus, direction, and clarity for a study. It should be specific, researchable, and relevant to the field of study.

Explanatory Research:

documents the causes and effects of social phenomena, thus addressing questions of why

Exploratory research:

tends to answer questions of how, with the goal of documenting precisely how particular processes and dynamics unfold.

Descriptive research:

Documents or describes trends, variations and patterns of social phenomena, WHAT IS _____

Evaluation Research:

Evaluation that points to certain event or law 

WHAT IS CONCEPTUALIZATION?

Finding definitions of your variables

• WHAT IS OPERATIONALIZATION?

How to measure your variables

• WHAT ARE VARIABLES?

labels applied to measures that are used to represent the concepts of interest, (variables act as proxies for abstract concepts they represent) Categorical 

• WHAT ARE MEASURES?-

Measures are numerical values that quantify characteristics, allowing for comparison, mathematical operations, and statistical analysis.

• WHY IS SAMPLING IMPORTANT? -

Sampling is crucial in research and data collection because it allows us to study a subset of a population instead of the entire group. This makes research more efficient, cost-effective, and manageable while still providing accurate insights.

• WHAT IS SAMPLING?-

selecting a subset of elements from a larger population

• UNIT OF ANALYSIS-:

What or who that is being studied and analyzed ina particular piece of research. It is the unit being studied and the level of social life that the research question is focused on. These sometimes differ front he unit of observation

What are the two main sampling approaches

Probability and Non probability sampling

What is probability sampling?

 Everyone has equal chance of being selected: Simple Random, Stratified, Systematic, Cluster, Multistage

Simple random

known and equal, probability of elements being drawn into the sample

Stratified Sampling

Sampling frame to be divided into  mutually exclusive and exhaustive subgroups, (Strata- subdivision or subgroups )

Systematic Sampling

Selecting sampling elements from a sampling frame using a sampling interval(Sampling interval; 1-in-k method; periodicity)(ex: picking every 10th)

Cluster Sampling

Population split into clusters then entire clusters are sampled

Multistage Sampling

-Use of multiple probability sampling techniques to draw a sample

What is NonProbability Sampling

Selecting subset of elements without a comprehensive lsit of population members, sample constructed using respondents with particular characteristic of interest: Convenience/Accidental Haphazard, Purposive/Judgemental, Quota, Snowball

Convenience/Accidental Haphazard Sampling:

What is convenient to me as a researcher

Purposive/Judgmental Sampling:

sample is selected based solely on a particular characteristic of the case

Quota Sampling:

Gathering cases for sample that have specific characteristics(quota sampling is basically nonprobability version of stratified sampling)

Snowball Sampling

gathered the sampled based off of referrals

• WHY CONDUCT RESEARCH USING QUALITATIVE DATA? 

Qualitative data are ideal for answering many research questions that seek to reveal a comprehensive understanding about a topic

• WHAT IS RESEARCH USING QUALITATIVE DATA?

uses non-numerical data such as text from (usually inductive reasoning)

What are the benefits of using qualitative data

Gather in-depth, detailed, and nuanced data. Enables a researcher to study a difficult-to-reach group. 

APPROACHES USED TO GATHER QUALITATIVE DATA

Interviews, observations and fieldwork, and document examinations. And triangulation(use of multiple methods data sources, or perspectives to cross-check and validate findings in qualitative research.)

Privilege Theory

argues that probation and parole are not legal rights but special privileges granted by the court or parole authorities. Because they are considered acts of mercy rather than entitlements, they can be revoked at the discretion of authorities without requiring full due process protections.

Benevolent Supervisor Theory

derives from the history of supervision as coming from a place of good intentions.

Contract Theory

people under supervision enter into a contract, under which they agree to abide by certain rules (i.e., supervision conditions). Therefore, when they fail to keep their end of the bargain, they can be incarcerated without relitigating the rules

Cuevas Study:

His research interests are in the area of victimization and trauma, sexual violence and sexual offending, family violence, and psychological assessment. He focuses on victimization among Latino women, youth, and understudied populations, and how it relates to psychological distress and service utilization, as well as the role cultural factors play on victimization. In addition, he is studying the impact of psychological factors on the revictimization of children and how it helps explain the connection between victimization and delinquency.

Brunson Study:

research examines youth experiences in neighborhood contexts with a specific focus on the interactions of race, class, and gender and their relationship to criminal justice practices.

Dodge Study

explores the perspectives of female police officers who serve as decoys in prostitution stings. Her work offers insight into how these women feel about themselves and others involved in the stings.

Zaykowski

research interests include victimization, youth violence, the intersection of victimization and offending, police–community relationships, and help seeking among victims.

Groff

Her research interests include the relationship between place and crime. She also conducts research examining crime prevention and policing