Measurement and Instruments for a Quantitative Research Plan: Human Trafficking
For a study into human trafficking and how many people end up being trafficked every year, quantitative measurement is necessary. Qualitative methods could be used, but they would be better suited toward providing insight into the feelings of those who were trafficked, as opposed to the prevalence of the trafficking problem itself (Creswell, 2003; Given, 2008). Since there are several options and ways this issue can be measured, it is important to decide not only what type of measuring instrument will be used but the level of measurement that is really important for the study (Bales, 2004).
Human trafficking can be very difficult to measure, based on the secretive nature of much of it and the unwillingness of traffickers (and many victims) to talk about the issue (Bales, 2004; Berger, 2012). However, that does not mean there is no way to get information about trafficking or that there have not been studies done that have collected statistical information on human trafficking (Kara, 2009; Rao & Presenti, 2012; Smith, 2011; Wortley, Fischer, & Webster, 2002; Rafferty, 2007). Additionally, the feelings of others when it comes to what they think about trafficking and how much they know about it can also be a highly valuable area of study. If not enough is known about human trafficking, it can be very difficult for anything to get done that would help stop the trafficking from taking place.
Level of Measurement
For this study, the level of measurement that is important and necessary will be based on the studies that have been done in the past and what can be discovered by surveying people regarding their knowledge of trafficking. In other words, a researcher can use past studies to determine what level of measurement has been addressed by other researchers, so he can focus on what is realistic and reasonable for the current study that will be undertaken (Creswell, 2003). This study needs to measure the number of people who are taken by traffickers every year, but it is much more realistic to break that down into categories.
These can be based on countries or on characteristics of the trafficked individuals (i.e.
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