Research Methods, Feminism, and Women in Crime (Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on feminist theory, research methods, data collection, ethics, and methodological shifts in studying women in crime.

Four basic research designs

Survey, Experiment, Case Study, and Field Study.

Historically dominant design in women and crime research

Survey.

Population

The group you want to study (e.g., adult and juvenile women involved in crime).

Representative sample

A subset of the population whose characteristics mirror the whole population, enabling generalization.

Generalize findings

Apply results from the sample to the entire population.

Data gathering method

Techniques used to collect data within a chosen design (e.g., interviews, documents, questionnaires, observation).

Interview (data collection method)

Oral data collection; can be structured (preset questions) or unstructured (conversational).

Documents (data collection method)

Use official or informal records and texts as data sources (e.g., records, journals).

Questionnaires (data collection method)

Written questions, on paper or computer; typically self-administered.

Open-ended questions

Questions allowing respondents to answer in their own words.

Closed-ended questions

Questions with a fixed set of possible answers (e.g., yes/no, multiple choice).

Observation (data collection method)

Systematic watching and recording of behavior over time, often in the field.

Case study (design)

In-depth study of a specific event, organization, or individual to gain detailed understanding.

Field study (design)

Study of a real setting, often with restricted access, to understand patterns in a natural environment (e.g., prisons).

Ethics: Do no harm

Avoid physical and emotional harm to participants.

Ethics: Informed consent

Participants are informed about the study and agree to participate with understanding.

Ethics: Voluntary participation

Participation must be voluntary and withdrawal allowed at any time.

Trust and voice in feminist research

Gaining women’s trust and centering their experiences and voices in research.

Impact of feminism on research methods

Led to diversification of designs and data gathering methods and greater emphasis on women's experiences.