Assessment Objective Two

Aims and Objectives

Analyse a range of different research methods

How will the assessment take place? Completion of six worksheets. One for each of the following methods of research: 1. Experiments 2. Surveys 3. Case Studies 4. Observations- (participant / non participant) 5. Questionnaires using rating systems e.g. Likert scale 6. Interviews- Formal and informal For each method of research you will comment on: o Overview of the method o Advantages and disadvantages o Examples of when it can be used in public services o Provide evidence of its use.
Grading Pass Candidates identify different types of research methods and provide a simple analysis of each. They demonstrate a limited understanding of the relevant methodology, its key concepts and its usage. Merit Candidates identify different types of research methods and provide a clear analysis of each. They demonstrate a good understanding of the relevant methodology, its key concepts and its usage. Distinction Candidates identify different types of research methods and provide a detailed analysis of each. They demonstrate an excellent understanding of the relevant methodology, its key concepts and its usage

Example
Overview: Find a definition and reference its source (Wikipedia not accepted). Give a general description of the research method. What are the key principles of the method? How would you go about doing this method? How is the data presented?

Advantages: Why might this method be used? What type of data is it good at analysing? How easy is it to collect the data?

Disadvantages: What are its limitations? When would it not be good to use?

Usage: When in the public services would it be good to use this method and why?

Example of use: Find an example of when it has been used. Describe how the method was used. Justify why that particular method was used.

Experiments
Overview: Definition: A test under controlled conditions that is made to demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy of something previously untried. A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact. Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/experiment Advantages: The advantages on experiments is crimes, if there are any DNA such as hair, blood, finger prints and fibre around the crime that take place than they could find out who it is without any reason it shouldnt be that one who has the match DNA examples. There are 30 or more range of evidence for use in experience, so if there was a crime, they have a lot of range of method of use in order to find the person who did it, and if someone seen the person who is in the crime sense area, they might not be sure if is the person who they know or who you know how he/she look like Disadvantages: If the experiments is base on DNA they could fine random DNA example because on the area that crime take place they could find other DNA that was there days ago maybe weeks, if they match the DNA and finds out that the person was there weeks ago and it was the wrong person it could waste there time and others, so dont always rely DNA experiments. Not every one can do experience one DNA it needs years of training, and the equipment cost a lot of money. Usage: When a crime scene happen on that same day, if they find any fresh blood or hair examples, they should straight away doing the experiments because, they need to find the person who did it before the person could admit crime again, and if they make any mistake on picking up the wrong DNA examples they could get it out of the way and done with. Example of use: How Lancashire Police and leading forensic experts managed to identify Robert Morley as the killer of nine year-old Imraan Vohra In 2001, the case was re-opened under a Cold Case Review. DNA technology had come a long way since the 80s, and there was hope that a match could now be identified. The Forensic Science Service (FSS) were called in to extract traces of DNA from crime scene samples obtained in 1985. Scientists painstakingly pieced together specimens and collated the existing evidence.

Finally, in 2006, a DNA profile of Imraans killer was compiled. By 2008, advances in DNA genetic work meant that the database could be searched for offenders who were likely to have a familial link. One man appeared at the top of the list. He was revealed to be a close relative of the offender and in 2009 Robert Morley was identified as Imraans killer. He had died of lung cancer 12 years earlier. DNA from a lung biopsy, taken at the time of Morleys treatment, was compared to the DNA from the 1985 murder scene. In order to satisfy themselves that the correct man had been identified, police then began piecing together Morleys past. It was soon discovered that Morley had been convicted of indecent exposure at the age of 14 and his life was fraught with aggression and abuse. A heavy drinker, he had moved around the country with known links in London, Lancashire, Hertfordshire and West Sussex. Father to a number of children, Morley had a string of relationships, most of which were violent. During the enquiry it became increasingly apparent that there was a strong possibility that Morley may have committed other crimes against women and children. Today, police appeal for those victims to come forward. . http://www.bbc.co.uk/crimewatch/solved/howtheycaught/htc_robertmorley.sht ml

Surveys Overview: Definition: a sampling, or partial collection, of facts, figures, or opinions taken and used to approximate or indicate what a complete collection and analysis might reveal: (The survey showed the percentage of the population that planned to vote.) Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/survey

Advantages: Surveys are relatively inexpensive (especially self-administered surveys). Useful in describing the characteristics of a large population. They can be controlled from remote locations using mail, email or telephone. Many questions can be asked about a given topic giving flexibility. Few people are required for the survey work so experts can be appointed for the survey. This will increase the reliability of the survey results. Sample survey means that similar data can be collected from groups then interpreted comparatively

Disadvantages: May occur after the crime event, so participants may forget important issues. Standardised so it is not possible to explain any points in the questions that contributors might misinterpret. Open-ended questions can generate large amounts of data that can take a long time to process and analyse. Respondents may answer quickly especially if the questionnaire takes a long time to complete. Usage: Surveys can be used within public services to carry out an investigation on a particular type of crime, or crime within a particular social area or group. By asking individuals within the different groups of crime they have witnessed, researchers are able to spot trends and patterns of crime, meaning that in the future they can use these conclusions to possible put a force of action in order to prevent these trends from happening. It is also a way to back up police standards as some individuals often find it hard to report a crime although, confidential in front of the police; a survey would provide a quicker and more anonymous way to report a crime. Example of use: The British Crime Survey or BCS is an organised victim study, currently carried out by BMRB Limited on behalf of the Home Office. The BCS aims to measure the amount of crime in England and Wales by asking around 50,000

people aged 16 and over (as of January 2009), living in private households, about the crimes they have experienced in the last year. From January 2009, 4,000 interviews were also conducted each year with children 1015 years old, although the resulting statistics remain experimental, overall, these surveys aim to provide a better reflection of the true level of crime than police statistics since it includes crimes that have not been reported to, or recorded by, the police. Statistics: In 2003/04 the number of robbery offences in England and Wales, for people aged 16 and over was around 283,000.In 2004/05 the number of robbery offences in England and Wales, for people aged 16 and over was around 255,000.The BCS does not measure robbery offences among victims under 16 years.

Case Studies
Overview: Definition: A case study is an intensive analysis of an individual unit for a person, group, or event. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_study Advantages: A lot of information can be collected, by collecting data from a range of methods and sources in order to gain a final conclusion. It can for example begin with an observation, and then be backed up with facts collected through other methods such as surveys or interviews. Include prime/secondary: Gives an insight into an event, by giving the facts collected and gives you the whole story rather than just a few facts. Can be informative and descriptive, by showing a cause for a premise.

Disadvantages: Very time consuming and may take a long time to complete therefore. Due to the fact it uses a range of sources from different places means that it is often hard to know whether the sources used are in fact reliable and can be used as a solid source for the study. Can often contradict the purpose of analysing an event or person, due to the fact that the person conducting the research for the case study may get too involved and begin to incorporate their own interpretations based on their opinions, which therefore, eliminates again the reliability of the case study.

Usage: One usage can be within the police force, whereby they can conduct a case study surrounding crime and punishment, and events surrounding that area. This can be related to incidents also that may have occurred, that the police have had to investigate and use a case study to present and give an insight on what happened Can also be used for the armed forces, by presenting a case study on statistics or information involved with the operations of the army. This may include information on their upcoming or recent missions, that will inform the reader of what may happen or what could happen, during these activities.

Example of use: There are many case studies that research youth crime within the uk. One investigated why the uk treat their youth offenders the way they do: Over three thousand children are currently behind bars in England and Wales. In France there are 530, in Italy 450 and in Sweden just six. So why do the English deal so punitively with children who find themselves in trouble with the law? Theres no correlation between crime rates and the numbers in custody, says OU Professor of Criminology John Muncie. Crime rates have fallen dramatically but the number of children going through the justice system keeps growing. And the reoffending rate of those who are sent to the juvenile secure estate is around 80 per cent within two years of release. Whatever the system is trying to do, it is clearly failing. Did you know that England and Wales is the only jurisdiction in Western Europe that routinely locks up 12-year-olds in secure training centres? Did you know that it has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility? Restoration and social inclusion simply cant happen to the extent required when so much of the budget goes on locking up so many children. Youth justice needs to be rethought as a means to support and protect children, not criminalize and punish them. http://www.open.ac.uk/socialsciences/about-the-faculty/case-studies/youthcrime.php

Observations
Overview: Definition: The action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information. Source: http://www.google.co.uk/search? hl=en&q=observation&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=gmneTpuBO4mfOrqEKwJ&ved=0CC8QkQ4&biw=1311&bih=625

Advantages: A general observation can give you a clear overview of an event or action. Can make you aware of other events linked or interrelated with the event that is being observed, by collecting the information and spotting trends and patterns, which you may not always be able to recognise yourself. Observations are reliable because the individual is actually at the scene of the event witnessing it for themselves, not just collecting information from random selections that could be false and made up. Researcher can understand social pressures and influences relating to the crime.

Disadvantages: The person or researcher who is conducting the research may make a false judgement of what they are witnessing, meaning the evidence they are putting forward, may not be correct. The fact it is an individual themselves going out to observe an event or incident means that it can often be thought of as being bias, this is because the person observing may only go to areas where they think that they will collect positive results, which would back up their premise, meaning they are only going to find out what they believe to be correct. May require backup if an incident regarding the observation happens, causing the operation to become dangerous. Background information may be missing. If you are observing a group of people, it may take time and money to conduct the research; this is because it may take a while to build up trust between you and the participants. May not be good to observe social behaviour as they may react to events differently than they normally would.

Usage: Policemen may use observation as research when investigating a crime, during interviews, crime on the street or through activities a criminal may be

involved in that are being closely observed. The armed forces may use observations to spot trends within the actions of themselves and actions of the enemy, meaning they can use it to better themselves in the way that they conduct their actions. Fire fighters will use observation within their practice as they always have to be aware of their surroundings in order to be a good fire fighter.

Example of use: Can be used for crime, when police officers are investigating patterns surrounding crime, maybe to do with why people commit crime and theyre behaviour and background, which will be involved within the conclusions. For example, James Patrick ,In the late 1950s was a young sociologist who obtained entry into a Maryhill area Glaswegian gang for four months, to observe their behaviour and crime committed, he joined in twelve times. It then became too much for him. However, he found that his findings relate to social conditions that lead to such a gang forming and becoming so intense in their behaviour, and that a core activity of the group was to put themselves into conflict situations where they may well have to fight but where actual fighting often did not happen. The Glasgow gang was found to be equivalent in behaviour and custom to the experience of gangs in the United States. This shows how observation was used to conduct research on patterns of behaviour surrounding criminals. http://www.change.freeuk.com/learning/socthink/glasgowgang.html

Questionnaires
Overview: Definition: A questionnaire It is a list of questions designed to collect specific information. It is used for research work by scientists, businesses, and political parties, among others. A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Although they are often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_questionnaire Advantages: You can ask any question you want. You can ask any type of question. You can get fact and opinion on a certain question that you wanted to know, this is a good use of advantages for you because they give the answer, you can analysis that answer and make it as an advantage. Disadvantages: You have to be careful on what you ask because for some people those questions you asked might be in appropriate or may even be too personal. If you can not get those answer on the question that you asked it will be a big disadvantages because you wont get anything out of it. Usage: Written questionnaires systematically gather information about a particular subject from a population of people. This module provides a strategy for determining whether a written questionnaire is an appropriate means of gathering data to meet the evaluation's goals. Example of use: If you are designing an alarm system, you need to know what type of alarms people want to buy. You could carry out a survey based on the following question and store the results as a table: I asked 100 people, which type of alarm they were in most need of? Bicycle, brief case, door, personal, car, anti pick pocket or window. The results are first presented as a table of results and then as a graphical pictogram.

Interviews
Overview: Definition: A conversation, such as one conducted by a reporter, in which facts or statements
are elicited from another.

Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/interview

Advantages: Good way to collect information about the complex, emotionally loaded subjects. 1v1 interrogation: They are more personal than a questionnaire, so the interviewer can directly work with the respondent, being able to work alongside them in order to ask and probe for any further questions that may come into good use. The interviewer can ask specific questions to probe the respondent. There arent usually any pre judgements; therefore, the respondent is free to express their own opinions. Factual: There can be a range of information collected, which can then be validated elsewhere with several other interviews. Disadvantages: Not always accurate, the interviewer may collect the wrong information, missing points and important facts out. They may also miss the purpose of the interview, meaning the information collected may not be relevant. Some may not answer the question: some respondents may go on a tangent, steering away from the main purpose of the question, therefore, limiting the information collected as it may not be relevant. Also, some people may just refuse to answer a certain question as interviews are personal and only depend on the answers of the respondent. Some questions may be private. Therefore, the information collected may not be able to be shared, meaning that you cant make conclusions from what was collected and also, if they are too private, the respondent may not even want to answer that question. Interviews can be very time consuming.

Usage: Can be used within public services to analyse different factors of crime. Interviews are important for criminology and criminal justice because they give a depth of understanding from the point of view of the person being

interviewed.

Example of use: After a crime, there will be interviews for most of all of the people who were involved in the event. This would be carried out by a detective who leads the case and sometimes other officials from the police force. They will ask leading questions which will probe the respondent to answer from their point of view, on the events of the crime. The interview will be tailored to each respondent as some will be treated differently sue to them being treated as a witness, victim or suspect. The information collected will then be put together to spot any trends and patterns within what each respondent had to say, so that they can have a clearer picture of the event in order to make any further actions, such as any possible further interviews.