Verified Document

Social Science Research Methods Gang Violence Essay

Related Topics:

Alignment helps keep both qualitative and quantitative research studies cohesive, meaningful, and valid. The purpose of the study and its implications for policy or practice should be aligned with the research questions, design, and method. Research by Forster, Grigsby, Unger, et al. (2015) illustrates the concept of alignment in a quantitative study. The research focuses on the links between exposure to violence in the community, social ties with gangs or gang members, social self-control, and aggressive behavior. Based on prior research, the authors hypothesize that exposure to violence in the community would be associated with aggressive behaviors. The authors also hypothesize that having friends or family members in gangs was positively correlated with aggressive behavior, and that lower levels of self-control were also correlated with aggressive behavior. All of these hypotheses have the same dependent variable (aggressive behavior exhibited over the past week). These hypotheses and related research questions are also directly aligned with the purpose of the study: which is to identify risk factors for adolescent aggression. Moreover, the authors chose three of the most salient independent variables (exposure to violence, having friends or family members in gangs, and low social self-control) that have been already shown to be associated with...

The authors also want to illustrate the connections between these two variables, two of which are circumstantial or environmental (exposure to violence plus gang associations) and one of which is psychological or individual (social self-control).
The authors also carefully align their research methods and design with the research questions and the purpose of the study. In this case, the researchers choose a cross-sectional design with population samples from Los Angeles. Because the authors are specifically interested in urban gang violence, their sampling methods are appropriate, as is the selection of the research site. The authors did need to choose a population sample that would have been exposed to both violence in the community as well as family members and friends in gangs. The cross-sectional approach allowed the researchers to examine all the variables within the same population sample. Surveys and assessments were appropriately used for data collection.

Descriptive questions used in the study directly and clearly describe responses to the major variables. For example, the surveys asked single pointed questions about whether the individual had family members in a gang but used the social self-control measure, a standardized assessment, for measuring social self-control. The authors used…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Violence in Gangs and Its Prevention
Words: 1394 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Gang Violence Prevention Gang Violence Study of each and every society around the world gives us a phenomenon, which indicates at a certain graph related to organized crime. American society has long been associated with such a vice, and there have been many unearths made in this direction. There has been a lot of study and research associated with fact that how these gangs formed and what is the major motivational factor

Looking at Psychology of Violence
Words: 3967 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

violence and aggression. First, different aspects of violence, such as diversity and culture, gender and psychosocial aspects are discussed. And, the ethical and legal dimensions of mandatory reporting of child and elder abuse are looked into. The emerging technologies in the field of psychology are also discussed in relation to the topic of violence and other forms of deviant behavior. Lastly, correlations of the causality and violence prevention interventions

Ethnic Studies - Gangs Today's
Words: 3018 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

" (2002) The involvement in block gangs results in the adolescents being more likely to carry guns for two reasons: (1) Protection and a deterrent to violence; and (2) a strong belief that the opposing block-gang members will carry them. (Mateu-Gelabert, 2002) Guns are in addition to being used as "a currency for respect and a source of protection" intricately related to the business of drug dealing and therefore their use is for

Violence at Schools in South
Words: 4378 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

..This perspective is from the U.S.A.; in Europe, violence in school and the concern about violence may not be at similar levels, but it is undoubtedly a topic of major concern (Smith, 2003, p. 1). This article also makes the important point that school is intended as a developmental and educational environment and that violence in its various forms negatively effects and detracts from the goals of education. Another general work that

Violence in the Public Schools. Teen Violence
Words: 1762 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

violence in the public schools. Teen violence in general has become a major concern in America today. One of the reasons for the issue being so prevalent is the number of school shootings in the last few years, especially the shooting at Columbine High in Littleton, Colorado. While the welfare of young people is always of concern, much of the fear being generated at the present time is excessive.

Gang Prevention Program Gangs Contain
Words: 5590 Length: 16 Document Type: Thesis

George Knox, director of the National Gang Crime Research Center, teaches law enforcement officers how to search WebPages to pick up on gang member's lingo, territories, and rivalries. He also asserts it is crucial for officers to learn how to "read between the lines" when searching gang members' WebPages. Time on the Web, similar to time on the streets, gives gang investigators the ability to read the hieroglyphics of wall

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now