Voices from the Field

Paper Summary:

In this essay, the writer examines several aspects of the study titled 'Collective and Normative Features of Gang Violence' by S. Decker. The introduction is analyzed as well as the hypotheses and the literature review. The writer also looks at the research design, the reliability and validity of the instruments used and the ability of another person to replicate the study using the information therein. Further, the writer discusses the use and the appropriateness of statistical tests and the implications and practical significance of the findings. The writer concludes that this study might be useful to researchers comparing gang violence in the early 1990s with gang violence today.

From the Paper:

"The findings are not discussed in terms of their implications and practical significance. Qualitative research reports such as this one, are more often descriptive, rather than explanatory. The study contains many pages of direct quotations from interviews with gang members. Such research reports tend to read like a novel and give a sense of reality and validity to the report. Qualitative researchers identify more with the humanities than with the natural science. The scope of this type of study is very specific to the small group being studied. The conclusions are supported by and logically followed by the data that has been presented. The reader can not be sure whether the author over-generalized. The researcher promised confidentiality to all active gang members who agreed to be interviewed. The gang members self reporting of having engaged in violent crime could not be verified with police records. There was actual or potential bias detected. The majority of the sample was African American and male. There was a blatant omission of female gang members. The researcher seemed to concentrate on African American gang members whereas there are a significant number of gang members that belong to other nationalities."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cox, S., Fitzgerald, J. (2002). Research methods and statistics in criminal justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson. Retrieved March 1, 2007, from: https://mycampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/resource.asp
• Decker, S., (1996). Collective and normative features of gang violence. Justice Quarterly 13:243-264. In Pope, C., Lovell, R., & Brandl, S. (Ed.). Voices from the field: readings in criminal justice research. Retrieved March 1, 2007, from: https://mycampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/resource.asp

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