Research Methods Study Guide PDF

Research Methods Study Guide Chapter 8-13 Chapter 8: Sampling Sampling- The process of selecting observations Logic of probability sampling Representative: Each person in a population has an equal chance of being selected. Conscious and Unconscious sampling bias: Be conscious of bias: W...

Research Methods Study Guide Chapter 8-13 Chapter 8: Sampling Sampling- The process of selecting observations Logic of probability sampling Representative: Each person in a population has an equal chance of being selected. Conscious and Unconscious sampling bias: Be conscious of bias: When sampling is not fully representative of the larger population from which it was selected. Equal probability of selection method: Sample is representative of its characteristics closely match the populations charcteristics. Sampling Distribution: Sample Element: Who & What is studied Population: Specific group being studied Population Parameter: The value for a given variable in a population Sample Statistic: The summary description of a variable in a sample; used to make estimates of population The purpose of sampling: To select a set of methods from a population in a way that accurately shows parameters of total pop. Key=Random Selection Sampling Distribution: Range of sample statistic will be obtained if many samples are selected. Sampling Frame: List of elements in population Key feature of prob. Sampling designs: Relationship between populations and sampling frames Types of sampling: Simple random sampling: Each element is assigned a number, choices are made through random number generation. Systematic Sampling: Elements in the total list are chosen systematically for inclusion. Stratified Sampling: STRATA= Category Ensures that appropriate numbers are drawn from subsets of certain population Multiusage cluster sampling: Involves repetition of 2 basic steps 1.Listing & 2.Sampling National Crime Victimization Survey: Represent the nationwide population of people 12+ living in households Purposive Sampling: Selecting a sample on the basis of your judgement and the purpose of the study. Quota Sampling: Units are selected so that total sample has the same distribution of characteristics Snowball sampling: Interview some individual and then ask them to identify others who will participate in the study. Chapter 9: Survey Research Counting Crime: Asking people about victimization counters problems of data collected by police. Self Reports: Main method for studying the etiology of crime Perceptions and attitudes: To help learn how people feel about crime and CJ policy. Targeted Victim Survey: USed to evaluate policy innovations and program success. Guidelines for Asking Questions Open-ended: Respondent is asked to provide their own answer Closed-Ended: Respondent selects an answer from a list ⭐Choices should be Exhaustive and Mutually exclusive Contingency Q’s: Relevant only to some respondents, answer only based on the previous response. Matrix Q’s: Same set of answer categories used in multiple Qs Chapter 10: Qualitative Interviewing =Firsthand accounts Can be used to understand how people feel about their roles and identities Key features of Qualitative interviewing: (1)Richness of human experience and (2) approach to learning Types of qualitative interviews: Structured: standardizes responses are created so that respondents are given same stimulus. Semi-Structured: has standardized Q’s BUT allows the interviewer to explore topics that come up in the interview. Probes: techniques that push participants to further elaborate on responses. When conducting Qualitative interviews, Reflexivity is good to use. Reflexivity: refers to your subjectivity, and the meaning you give to information. Lofland & Lofland 1995: Suggested thinking units such as meanings/practices/episodes etc. Chapter 11: Field Observation Field Research has 2 different methods of obtaining data: 1.Direct observations 2.Asking questions May have both qualitative and quantitative data Ethnography: Focuses on detailed and accurate description. Types of Observers: 1. Complete participant 2. Participant as observer 3. Observer as participant 4. Complete observer Recording observation by videotaping or photographs can help for record of “before” and “after”. Strength and weaknesses: Flexibility: Better for measuring behavior High Validity: Quantitative measures Low reliability: Often very personal Generralizability: Personal nature that can produce findings NOT seen in another Chapter 12: Agency Records, Content analysis Types of analysis: Data from agency records: Agencies collect crime and data from CJ Secondary Analysis: Analyzing data previously collected Content analysis: researchers look at a class of coal artifacts Agency records are most commonly used in descriptive or explanatory studies. Types of agency records: 1.Published Statistics (Google) 2.Nonpublic agency records (Request info) 3.New data collected by agency staff Ted Robert Gur: Used published statistics on violent crime dating back to 13th century england. “Hybrid” source: Combines the collection of new data through observation or interviews with everyday CJ agency activities. When it comes to units of analysis and sampling: You can go from individual to aggregate but NOT the other way around. CJ organizations are more interested in keeping track of individual cases than in examining patterns. Types of content used for content analysis: Manifest content: Visible surface content. Latent content: has an underlying meaning Thompson and Haninger: “violence in video games” sampled 55 out of 600 E-rated games. Rosenfeld, Bray and Egley: “classifying gang-related homicides” observed how gang members might facilitate homicide in different ways. Looked at, Gang Motivated and affiliated killings Chapter 13: Evaluation research and problem analysis Evaluation research: refers to a research purpose rather then a specific method. Problem Analysis: Designed to help public officials choose form alternative future actions. Policy intervention: An action taken for the purpose of producing some intended result. Evidence based policy: The actions of justice agencies are linked to evidence used for planning and evaluation. The policy process involves: Outputs: Menas to achieve goals Inputs: end result Designs for program evaluation: Randomized Evaluation designs: Avoids selection bias. Case flow: represents process through which subjects are accumulated into experimental and control groups Treatment integrity: Whether an experimental intervention is deliveerd as intended; reliability Quasi-Experimental Designs cont.: Ex post evaluation: Conducted after experimental program has gone into effect Full coverage programs: Sentencing guidelines Larger treatment units: Neighborhood crime prevention program. Interrupted Time-Series Designs: Require attention to different issues because researchers cannot normally control how reliable the treatment is. 2 Types of Problem analysis: How to do it guides: A general guide to crime analysis to aupport problem oriented policing Problem & response guides: Describe how to analyze very specific types of problems and what are known to be effective or ineffective responses Auto theft in Chula Vista: Nanci and Rana (2004): started their analysis of vehicle theft by comparing chula vista to other southern California cities. Space and time based analysis: increased prevalence due to technological advances. Crime maps usually represent at least four different things: 1. One or more crime types 2. Space or area 3. Some time perios 4. Some dimension of land use (usually streets)