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Case Analysis: Critical of Research Methods - Youth

GangsPosted by Thomas J Gale on February 1, 2011 at 3:19pm

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.In this case study I have chosen to look into an area of crime that has been at the
centre of the criminal justice systems debate over the contradiction between
punishment, restoration and rehabilitation. The subject of Youth Crime and
especially Youth Gangs has been a concern of the public and authorities for
decades, however only within the past twenty years has the topic been much of a
threat or concern with regards to rising crime rates and a change in the publics
idea of what is to be considered as crime. The topic of Youth Gangs in our late
modern society is a highly debated subject as there is no, and there is likely to
never be, a concrete definition of what a youth gang really is. The two studies I have
chosen to examine adopt similar techniques of data collection, however the way in
which they go about using their chosen methods differ slightly. I will examine the
two research studies that I have chosen in detail and conclude as to whether or not;
the methods of research and study were suitable for the subject area, whether there
could be any bias from the aims and objectives and those who carried out the
research and look into the strengths and weaknesses of each study according to
their chosen methods and their findings.

The topic of Youth Gangs has existed for decades, some of the earliest
records of youth gangs date prior to the 20th century, especially in the United
States. According to Decker and Curry (2010) the industrial revolution in the United
States in the late 19th century led to a massive number of immigrant youths that
were heavily involved in crime. However in the United Kingdom there has not been
a shift or turning point in the emergence of Youth Gangs. The youths in the UK have
been described as Americanised, in that their behaviour originated from the spread
of American culture across the Atlantic in politics, social economy and now
apparently behaviour. The topic has also not received a massive amount of
attention with regards to research and study until quite recently. It was recorded
through official statistics from the BCS and the ONS though there were not many
individual studies focused on youth gangs and juvenile offending. One of the
possible reasons for this lack of study on the subject may be because of the
relatively recent emergence of youth crime and gangs through the 1980s and
1990s. This was particularly noticeable in Scotland where there is a massive lack on
juvenile offending research.
 The two methods of research gathering commonly used in Criminological study
are; qualitative and quantitative, both are suited to different kinds of study and, in
some ways, to different subjects. Of course both can be used in the same study and
under the same topic; however the results that one would gain from such research
would be measurably different. Both of my chosen studies adopted the quantitative
technique; however they both adopted different methods in which they chose to
conduct their study with regards to; study location(s), interview numbers and most
noticeably the consideration over the studies autonomy.

The quantitative research method starts with a theory or hypothesis on a

chosen subject and using various methods of data collection and analysis the
researcher will attempt to prove or disprove that theory or hypothesis. It is based
around quantification, which is the means to transcribe a study of a subject into
some kind of numeric format which will allow it to be mapped out and studied in
detail, this makes it a deductive study. A helpful way of thinking, when you are
carrying out or planning to carry out quantitative research, is to consider Positivism.
Positivism in Criminology is the theory by which it is seen that a scientific and
methodological approach is the best way to gain an understanding of human
behaviour. It is quite obvious then that combining the quantitative research method
with the Positivist theory is the best way of gaining the correct type of data and
information for a quantitative study. I believe that the best summary of the Positivist
Criminology theory, which also supports quantitative research methods, is shown in
Tim Newburns; Criminology. Newburn cited Bottoms summary of the main
assumptions associated with Positivist Criminology, these assumptions are; Fact
must be distinguished from values. The core method involved the collection of data,
the development of hypothesis, and the testing of these for verification or
falsification (hypothesis-deductive reasoning). The combination of natural scientific
methods and deductive reasoning led to a powerful preference for quantitative
over qualitative data. (Bottoms, 2000, cited in Newburn, 2007, p.121)
 According to QSR International, 2007; qualitative research seeks out the
why not the how of its topic through the analysis of unstructured information
which is derived from; interview transcripts, open ended survey responses, emails,
notes, feedback forms. Moreover, QSR notes that qualitative research includes
methods such as focus groups, ethnography and in-depth interviews which are
much more specific to the qualitative methods. Ethnography is a concept that is at
the heart of a qualitative study, this is because the emphasis in ethnography is on
studying an entire culture, but it has been broadened to include a virtually any
group or organisation. (Social Research Methods, 2006).

The first study that I will be examining is from The Economic and Social
Research Council, (E.S.R.C.); Youth Gangs in an English City: Social Exclusion, Drugs
and Violence. The Economic and Social Research Council funds research and
training in social and economic issues, as it is an independent organisation and
therefore there is no risk of any bias affecting the research. The study was
ethnographic and holistic; it attempted to examine every important aspect of Youth
Gang culture, behaviour, their activities and their hierarchy. Being a qualitative
study, it conducted a number of different data gathering techniques. The study was
conducted over twenty six months, using close observation of specific groups that
were identified to be gangs. In total there were one hundred and seven interviews
with gang members, their associates, and a number of key informants. Lastly the
study conducted nine focus groups with non-gang youths, community
representatives and parents. Judith Aldridge and Juan Medina-Ariza chose to keep
the study completely anonymous, this made the conduction and transcription of
interviews harder than if they were able to include the details of the interviewees.

The study began with background research into the history of the topic in the study
location, the study location in this piece is named research city. In the research
city there were areas that were dominantly of the black minority with high levels of
gang activity which was mainly orientated around drugs and guns in gang
territories, where as in the predominantly white areas of the city, the gang, gun and
drug crime had much less attention from; the authorities, the public and the media.
This factor did not contribute to focused research on either area in the research city,
however it did help to decipher why those in different areas find the concept of
gangs more attractive than others. The findings from this study are presented in
relation to: gang formation, life-course, violence, earnings, drug use, the roles of
females, ethnicity and their community.

This study used Participant Observation to gather most of its data on youth
gangs in the research city, the participant observation took place over 26 months
and it included the team engaging in community events, volunteering in youth
centres, community groups (concerned with gang violence and independent
advisory groups) and most importantly, socialising with gang members and their
associates in their areas of the community. (Aldridge, J., Medina, A. 2009). There
are of course dangers to the latter method undertaken by the researchers, as
dealing directly with youth gangs can put them into direct contact with all kinds of
crime, directed towards others or themselves. There were other, more serious
drawbacks shown in this research study that could apply to all others carried out in
the same way.

During the study there were many occasions where, in interviews, focus
groups and other interactive transcriptions with gang members and officials, events
were described in such detail, the interviewee could be easily identified by their side
of events. And as nearly every gang member used some kind of identifying
nickname for others, the anonymity of the study could again be easily
compromised. Another threat to the security of anonymity in this study was a laptop
that was stolen from a researchers home in a burglary. Even though this does not
seem to be relevant to the study itself, it does speak for how the information
gathered, is so sensitive, that when things beyond ones control endanger the
information, it can cause huge amounts of damage to; the study, its progress and
its ethical standing in the researcher community. Aldridge and Medina-Ariza, 2009,
realised that they were very fortunate that none of the information contained
details of events or people as the laptop was stolen very early into the study. This
highlights how important the security of information is in detailed studies such as
this, as when put in perspective; a quantitative load of data featuring numerical
results from surveys is not nearly as personally and professionally sensitive as
detailed information normally transcribed in one on one interviews.
 The second study that I will be examining is from The Scottish Centre for
Crime and Justice Research (S.C.C.J.R.), called Troublesome Youth Groups, Gangs
and Knife Carrying in Scotland. Scotland does have a slightly different youth justice
programme than England and Wales, however this study is not concerned with the
justice system, but of the youth gangs, territoriality, criminal and non criminal
activity, income, the role of female members and hierarchy. Therefore I find this
study to be relevant in analysing whether or not the methods taken are suitable for
topic area and the objectives set out by the S.C.C.J.R.

Unlike the E.S.R.C. study; this uses a number of large research areas, these
included; Aberdeen, Dundee Edinburgh, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire
(S.C.C.J.R. 2010). A large study area is normally used for a quantitative study to
ensure an accurate representation of a large population. Using such a large area for
this piece of research is plausible however, unless you have adequate funding and
resources, the large area and number of interviews, etc, needed could become more
of an inconvenience. These locations in particular were chosen because of the
amount of information that was found to be available to the team on the subject.
Arksey and Knights,1999 comparison of quantitative questionnaires and qualitative
interviews best describes the pros and cons of quality over quantity; their
comparisons show that qualitative interviews allow for questions to be clarified
with a rather heavy cost of limited coverage and that the questionnaires ensure
anonymity to a greater degree than interviews as well as having a virtually
unlimited coverage area (Arksey & Knight, 1999)

There is also a massive lack of research and publications on the subject of youth
gangs in Scotland which caused a problem with regards to understanding the scope
of the groups they will be getting involved with as well as how to properly begin
distinguishing the term youth gangs without exacerbating already confused
definitional issues. There is a range of competing views, with no clear consensus in
relation to the definition of what a youth gang is, or how it might be defined or
understood in the Scottish context. (S.C.C.J.R. 2010).
The researchers found their interviewees and other participants through youth
organisations. Id consider this to be a serious weakness in a qualitative study into
youth gangs, as those who are attending youth organisations and other projects
that help troubled youths, are in the mindset of leaving a gang. This therefore can
give a slightly different point of view than that of those who are still committed to
their gangs and their activities. Similarly, they also found participants in prisons,
HMP Barlinnie, HMP Perth and HMPYOI Polmont. (S.C.C.J.R. 2010). The same
question can be asked as to whether or not those interviewed could give an
accurate account for their feelings as they are not longer attached to their gang.
The emotional attachment to their fellow gang members may mimic that of a
family, and with these emotional ties, lays the underpinning notion of dependency.

Both of these studies used interview transcripts in displaying their results; however
it is highly visible that due to the S.C.C.J.R.s lack of concern over the anonymity of
their interviewees, they are able to use full and detailed transcripts. Unlike the
E.S.R.C. who unfortunately had to strike out a majority of their transcripts which
made them virtually indecipherable and often very misleading. There is a
considerable difference between the studies in the number of interviews and
interactions that had taken place given the sizes of the research areas. For example,
the E.S.R.C. study took place in research city, the city its self was kept anonymous,
and in this area they conducted one hundred and seven interviews and nine focus
groups. And the S.C.C.J.R. had a massive study area of 5 separate towns and cities
though only conducted ninety five interviews with gang members and associates.

The subject of Youth Gangs is a highly untapped area of criminality and has caused
a mass debate on the very fluid definitions of what a youth gang really entails. Both
of these studies acknowledged this issue and within itself tried to find or create a
more solid definition, they did this by observing gang activity to try to understand
what actually constitutes a gang, and what could simply be considered as more of a
delinquent group of youths. From what I discovered; the E.S.R.C. study revealed that
it used far more in depth methods using participant observation as well as finding
its interviewees in more appropriate locations, whereas the S.C.C.J.R. seemed to rely
on their surveys and interviews which were conducted from such organisations that
may affect the answers given. Both of the studies rightly favoured a qualitative
study into this subject, this allowed them to find out the why rather than the how
much and where. The E.S.R.C. published a small publication on the work that they
and their funded research had done into the subject of Youth Gangs, it stated that
their findings case doubt on stereotyped images of drug-dealing and gun violence
involving young people from marginalised ethnic minority areas. (E.S.R.C., no
date). This is a common misconception about Youth Criminality and Gangs, and
these two studies used the correct types of research methodology to give detailed
answers to why Youth Gangs seem so predominant and what activates they are
really involved in.

References

Aldridge, J., Medina, A. (2009) Youth Gangs in an English City: Social Exclusion,
Drugs and Violence [Online]. Available at:
http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/ViewOutputPage.asp...
(Accessed: 20-10-2010)

Arksey, H., Knight, P. (1999) Interviewing for Social Scientists. London: SAGE
Publishings
Decker, S., Curry, G. (2010) Juvenile and Youth Gangs - History, Scope Of Gang
Problems, Correlates Of Gang Proliferation, Gangs And Crime, Drugs And Gangs
[Online]. Available at: http://law.jrank.org/pages/1488/Juvenile-Youth-Gangs.html
(Accessed: 09/11/2010)

Economic and Social Research Methods, (no date) Youth Gangs: The Facts Behind
The Headlines [Online]. Available at:
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/Images/RESEARCH%20GRANT%20-%20...
(Accessed: 21-11-2010)

Newburn, T. (2007) Criminology. Devon: Willan Publishing

Q.S.R. (2007) What is Qualitative Research? [Online]. Available at:

http://www.qsrinternational.com/what-is-qualitative-research.aspx (Accessed: 15-11-
2010)

The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, S.C.C.J.R. (2010) Troublesome
Youth Groups, Gangs and Knife Carrying in Scotland [Online]. Available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/324191/0104329.pdf (Accessed: 21-10-
2010)
Web Centre for Social Research Methods, (2006) Qualitative Approaches:
Ethnography. Available at: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/qualapp.php
(Accessed: 15-11-2010)