















Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Community
Ask the community for help and clear up your study doubts
Discover the best universities in your country according to Docsity users
Free resources
Download our free guides on studying techniques, anxiety management strategies, and thesis advice from Docsity tutors
An overview of sampling techniques used in criminal justice research, including probability sampling methods like simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, and multistage cluster sampling. It also explores non-probability sampling methods such as purposive sampling, quota sampling, and snowball sampling. The document further delves into survey research, a common method of data collection in criminal justice, discussing its strengths and weaknesses, different types of surveys, and guidelines for designing effective survey questions. It also covers various aspects of survey administration, including self-administered questionnaires, in-person interviews, and telephone surveys.
Typology: Exams
1 / 23
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
sampling the process of selecting observations
how the logic of probability sampling makes it possible to represent large populations with small subsets of those populations sampling allows researcher to make a small subset of observations and then generalize to the rest of the population
Representative Each member of the population has a known and equal chance of being selected into the sample
the logic of probability sampling Enables us to generalize findings from observing cases to a larger unobserved population
you need ______ sample sizes to ensure more _____ samples you need larger sample sizes to ensure more equal samples
sample element Who or what are we studying (student)
population- whole group (college freshman
ex- giant group, loyola university undergraduate student
population parameter The value for a given variable in a population
sample statistic The summary description of a given variable in the sample; we use sample statistics to make estimates or inferences of population parameters -ex- pull 1k out of the 15000 students
purpose of sampling To select a set of elements from a population in such a way that descriptions of those elements (sample statistics) accurately portray the parameters of the total population from which the elements are selected -The key to this process is random selection
sampling distribution The range of sample statistics we will obtain if we select many samples
sampling frame list of elements in our population
the more subjects the _______ better
Seeks to represent the nationwide population of persons 12+ living in households
british crime survey First stage: 289 states, stratified by geographic area and population density Two sample points were selected, which were divided into four segments with equal #'s of delivery addresses =age 16+
non probable sampling is sampling in which the probability that an element will be included in the sample is not known
Purposive sampling Selecting a sample on the basis of your judgment and the purpose of the study
Quota sampling Units are selected so that total sample has the same distribution of characteristics as are assumed to exist in the population being studied
Snowball sampling You interview some individuals, and then ask them to identify others who will participate in the study, who ask others
whats the most logically fundamental technique in probability sampling simple random sampling
Distinguish the variety of probability sampling designs that can be used and combined to suit different populations and research purposes systematic sampling, stratified sampling (proportionate and disproportionate), and multistage cluster sampling
_______ ___________ is perhaps the most frequently used mode of observation in sociology and political science, and surveys are often used in criminal justice research as well Survey research is perhaps the most frequently used mode of observation in sociology and political science, and surveys are often used in criminal justice research as well
Counting Crime: asking people about victimization counters problems of data collected by police
Self-Reports: dominant method for studying the etiology of crime
Perceptions and Attitudes: To learn how people feel about crime and CJ policy
Respondents like to read and answer a question quickly
Avoid Negative Items: (guidelines for asking questions) Leads to misinterpretation
Avoid Biased Items and Terms: (guidelines for asking questions) Do not ask questions that encourage a certain answer
Designing Self-Report Items: (guidelines for asking questions) Use of computer-assisted interviewing techniques
Contingency Questions: Relevant only to some respondents — answered only based on the previous response -"if yes explain why"
Matrix Questions: Same set of answer categories used in multiple questions -ex- scale questions
how to order questions for surveys -Ordering may affect the answers given
-Estimate the effect of question order -Perhaps devise more than one version -Begin with most interesting questions -End with duller, demographic data
self administered questionnaires can be home delivered or mailed( sent and returned)
warning mailins "Address correction requested" card sent out to determine incorrect addresses and to "warn" residents to expect questionnaire in mail
Cover Letters: Detail why survey is being conducted, why respondent was selected, why is it important to complete questionnaire
Monitoring returns: Pay close attention to the response rate; assign #'s serially
Follow-up mailings: Nonrespondents can be sent a letter, or a letter and another questionnaire; timing
computer assisted telephone interviewing A set of computerized tools that aid telephone interviewers and supervisors by automating various data collection tasks -Can automate contingency questions and skip sequences -Formats responses into a data file as they are keyed in
_______ _________ questionnaires are generally cheaper, better for _________ issues than interview surveys Self-administered questionnaires are generally cheaper, better for sensitive issues than interview surveys
strengths of survey research
weaknesses of survey research
qualitative interview is an interaction between an interviewer and a respondent where the interviewer has a general plan of inquiry, including topics to be covered -can be thought of as a purposful conversastion
Key Features of Qualitative Interviewing
Interview schedule: The structure of the interview that may have predetermined questions or topical areas to be discussed
Structured interviews create standardized responses so respondents are given the same stimulus, allowing for responses to be compared -A structured interview schedule consists of predetermined questions and answer sets
Semi-structured interview has standardized questions but allows the interviewer to explore themes that emerge during the interview
Unstructured interviews -concersations? interview guied? are the most open style of interviewing -Two main approaches: conversations and interview guide -conversations- is an informal "chat" where conversation flows organically -interview guide- includes a list of topical areas that you want to cover in the conversation
focus group interviews
sponsor, letter, phone call, and meeting
conducting qualitative interviews
conducting qualitative interview #
Conducting Focus Group Interviews
recording data in force groups -After recording information, researchers must transcribe the dialogue verbatim -After returning from interviews, you must write up field notes no later than the morning after
field research 2 methods? what 2 kinds of data can you get?
-qualitative and quantitative
when field research best useful
Especially appropriate for topics best understood in their natural setting -Street-level drug dealers to distinguish customers
Ethnography Focuses on detailed and accurate description rather than explanation
roles of observer in field observation -complete participant -participant as observer -observer as participant -complete observer
complete participant (field research) Participate fully; true identity and purpose are not known to subjects -you are in it with the people and you are observing -ex undercover cop
participant as observer (field research) Make known your position as researcher and participate with the group -ex "i want to know life in your shoes"
observer as participant (field research)
Agency records, secondary data, and content analysis do not require direct interaction with research subjects
Data from agency records: Agencies collect a vast amount of crime and criminal justice data
Secondary analysis: Analyzing data previously collected -someone collects data and others analyze it
Content analysis: Researchers examine a class of social artifacts (typically written documents)
agency record topics Topics appropriate to research using content analysis center on the important links between communication, perceptions of crime problems, individual behavior, and criminal justice policy
types of agency records -publishes statistics ex- ucr,nibrs -nonpublic agency records -ex- you have to go in and request it -new data collected by agency staff -ex- idea of what is a targeted problem
Nonpublic agency records agencies produce data not routinely released -Child Abuse, Delinquency, and Adult Arrests -crime hot spots
crime hot spots Geographic areas and times of day that signal concentrations of various types of crime
new data collected by agency staff -Collected for specific research purposes -Little cost -Allows the researcher more control
You can go from individual to _______, but not aggregate to _______ You can go from individual to aggregate, but not aggregate to individual
Sampling Taking subsets of agency records is relatively simple and quite useful
units of analysis in cjc data (criminal activity )
violence in video games
Gang-motivated killings: Resulted from gang behavior or relationships, such as an initiation ritual, the "throwing" of gang signs, or a gang fight
Gang-affiliated homicides: Involves a gang member as victim or offender, but with no indication of specific gang activity
secondary analysis Data collected by other researchers are often used to address new research questions
secondary analysis advantages and disadvantages
Evaluation Research: Refers to a research purpose rather than a specific method; seeks to evaluate the impact of interventions; if some result was produced -ex- taking something that exists and seeing what it does and if it works for example a law
Problem Analysis: Designed to help public officials choose from alternative future actions
-people come with issues to officials that theres a probelm and solution is not working so they work on it
Policy Intervention: An action taken for the purpose of producing some intended result -doing something about the problem
Evidence-Based Policy: The actions of justice agencies are linked to evidence used for planning and evaluation -we dont do things because we feel its the right thing to do we do it because evidence proves it works
the policy process Begins with a demand supporting a new course of action or opposition to existing policy -Policymakers consider ultimate goals and actions to achieve those goals
outputs? imacts? Outputs: The means to achieve desired goals -the intent Impacts: Refer to basic questions about what a policy seeks to achieve -the goal