Applied Research Methods – Research Critique
Applied Research Methods – Research Critique
The purpose of this course is to make students informed consumers of research. The final assignment involves reading three provided research articles and answering specific questions about each. The questions focus on identifying the research design, data type, sampling procedure, dependent variable, key findings, and limitations of each study. Responses should be comprehensive, explaining each component clearly to a lay audience, including statements of answers, explanations, and justifications for each identification.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The ability to critically evaluate research studies is a vital skill for students in social sciences. This critique aims to analyze three peer-reviewed articles, focusing on their research methodology, data utilization, and study limitations. Through this, the student will demonstrate an understanding of research principles and the capacity to interpret research findings responsibly.
Analysis of Article 1: Guerette (2007)
Research Design
The research design employed in Guerette's (2007) study is a quasi-experimental impact evaluation. This approach is characterized by assessing the effect of a policy intervention—namely, the Border Safety Initiative—without random assignment, relying instead on observational data and comparison groups. Such a design enables researchers to infer potential causality by measuring outcomes before and after the intervention and comparing with non-treated groups.
Type of Data
The data used in this study are primarily quantitative, consisting of border crossing statistics, migrant death records, and policy implementation data gathered from administrative sources. The information encompasses numerical counts and trend data relevant to migrant mortality and border security efforts.
Sampling Procedure
The sampling procedure involved in this study is a form of purposive sampling of border regions where the policy was implemented, along with comparable regions where it was not. The selection aimed to control for extraneous variables, providing relevant comparison data for impact evaluation.
Dependent Variable
The primary dependent variable in this study is the number of migrant deaths at the border. This variable reflects the immediate impact of the border security policies on migrant mortality rates.
Key Findings
Guerette (2007) found that the implementation of the Border Safety Initiative was associated with a significant decrease in migrant deaths, suggesting the policy's effectiveness in saving lives. However, the study also noted potential displacement effects, with migrants possibly finding alternative, more dangerous routes. The research indicates that targeted policies can influence border-related mortality rates effectively but also highlights the need to consider unintended consequences.
Limitations
- Threats to Validity: The quasi-experimental design lacks randomization, which could mean confounding variables influence the observed effects, threatening internal validity.
- Data Limitations: The reliance on administrative records may carry inaccuracies or incomplete reporting, affecting result reliability.
- External Validity: The specific regional and policy context limits the generalizability of the findings to other border areas or immigration contexts.
Analysis of Article 2: Kovandzic, Sloan, and Vieraitis (2004)
Research Design
The study employs a quantitative, longitudinal research design, utilizing statistical analysis to evaluate the impact of the 'Three Strikes' laws on crime rates across various U.S. cities over time. This design allows the examination of crime trends before and after law implementation, controlling for time-invariant city characteristics.
Type of Data
The data are mainly secondary, comprising crime statistics, arrest records, and temporal data from crime reporting agencies aggregated at the city level across multiple years. This data provides numerical, city-level crime trends over periods before and after policy enactments.
Sampling Procedure
The sampling involves selecting U.S. cities that adopted 'Three Strikes' laws within a specified timeframe, creating a sample of jurisdictions for which crime trend data are available. The city selection criteria aimed to include jurisdictions with comparable demographics and crime patterns to enhance comparability.
Dependent Variable
The key dependent variable is the rate of violent and property crimes per 100,000 residents, measured annually. This variable assesses the impact of the 'Three Strikes' laws on overall crime levels.
Key Findings
The study concluded that 'Three Strikes' laws did not produce a significant reduction in overall crime rates across the cities examined. Some cities experienced slight decreases, while others saw increases, suggesting that the laws' effectiveness varies depending on local context and enforcement strategies. Overall, the findings challenge the efficacy of 'Three Strikes' policies as a broad crime reduction tool.
Limitations
- Threats to Validity: Potential confounding factors, such as other crime prevention measures, were not fully controlled, possibly biasing the results.
- Measurement Bias: Changes in reporting practices or law enforcement priorities over time might influence crime data accuracy.
- Selection Bias: City selection may not be representative of all jurisdictions, limiting external validity.
Analysis of Article 3: D’Alessio, Stolzenberg, and Terry (1999)
Research Design
The research design is a quasi-experimental pre-post study that evaluates the effect of Tennessee’s Emergency Cellular Telephone Program on alcohol-related fatal crashes. The design involves comparing crash rates before and after program implementation within the same geographic region.
Type of Data
The study uses quantitative secondary data derived from traffic crash reports, law enforcement records, and program administrative data. The data include variables such as crash frequency, alcohol involvement, and temporal markers of program rollout.
Sampling Procedure
The sampling includes all traffic crash data from Tennessee during specified periods before and after the program's implementation, effectively a population-based sample of crashes within the state during those times.
Dependent Variable
The dependent variable is the number of alcohol-related fatal crashes, measured monthly or yearly, to assess the program’s impact on crash outcomes.
Key Findings
The findings indicated a significant decline in alcohol-related fatal crashes following the telephone program’s implementation. The study suggests that increased enforcement visibility through cellular communication facilitated quicker law enforcement response, thereby reducing crash fatalities.
Limitations
- Threats to Validity: The lack of a control group makes it difficult to attribute changes solely to the intervention, as external factors could also influence trends.
- Data Reliability: Crash reports depend on accurate reporting of alcohol involvement, which may be subject to underreporting or misclassification.
- Temporal Confounding: Other concurrent road safety initiatives could confound the observed effects, limiting causal inference.
Conclusion
Analyzing these articles highlights the importance of understanding research design, data sources, and methodological limitations in evaluating policy impacts. Each study demonstrates different approaches to public policy evaluation, with strengths and weaknesses that influence the interpretation of findings. Critical appraisal of these research components ensures a comprehensive understanding of their implications for policy and practice in criminology and public safety.
References
- Guerette, R. T. (2007). Immigration Policy, Border Security and Migrant Deaths: An Impact Evaluation of Life Saving Efforts under the Border Safety Initiative. Criminology & Public Policy, 6(2), 319-346.
- Kovandzic, T., Sloan, J., & Vieraitis, L. (2004). ‘Striking Out’ as Crime Reduction Policy: The Impact of ‘Three Strikes’ Laws on Crime Rates in U.S. Cities. Justice Quarterly, 21(2), 315-339.
- D’Alessio, S., Stolzenberg, L., & Terry, W. (1999). “Eyes on the Street”: The Impact of Tennessee’s Emergency Cellular Telephone Program on Alcohol-related Fatal Crashes. Crime and Delinquency, 45(4), 508-525.
- Becker, H. (2018). Research Design and Methods in Social Science. Journal of Social Research, 45(3), 225-245.
- Schutt, R. K. (2019). Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research. Sage Publications.
- Ragen, J., & Braithwaite, V. (2017). Quantitative Research Methods for Criminology. Oxford University Press.
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- Fisher, J. F., & Lab, S. P. (2018). The Essentials of Research Methods. Sage Publications.
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- Robson, C. (2011). Real World Research. Wiley.