Applied Research Methods: Research Critique The Purpose Of T

Applied Research Methods Research Critiquethe Purpose Of This Course

The purpose of this course is to make you informed consumers of research and over the semester you have gained knowledge of the components of research that will assist you in this final assignment. The research critique consists of reading three research studies and answering several questions about each. All three studies have been provided for you. The studies selected for the critique are as follows: Article 1: Guerette, Rob 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); Article 2: Kovandzic, T., Sloan, J., and 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); Article 3: D’Alessio, S; Stolzenberg, L., and Terry, W. Clinton III (1999). “Eyes on the Street”: The Impact of Tennessee’s Emergency Cellular Telephone Program on Alcohol-related Fatal Crashes.” Crime and Delinquency, 45(4). For each of these research articles perform the following: 1. Identify the research design used. 2. Specify the type of data used to conduct the analysis. 3. Identify the sampling procedure employed. 4. Specify the dependent variable of the study. 5. Present the key findings of the study. 6. Identify at least 3 limitations of the study (e.g., threats to validity, reliability, etc.) and explain each. Provide separate answer sheets for each article and identify your responses to the specific question above that you are answering. Your responses should be typed, 12 point font, and single spaced. Your answers are due on the last day of the week that the final exam is scheduled. Be sure to explain each of your answers fully. You should strive to be as comprehensive in your answers as possible as if you were explaining your answers to a lay person who knows nothing about research methodology.

Paper For Above instruction

In this critique, I will analyze three research articles related to criminal justice and public policy to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of research methodologies. The articles selected for review are Guerette's 2007 study on immigration policy and border security, Kovandzic et al.'s 2004 examination of 'Three Strikes' laws, and D’Alessio et al.'s 1999 evaluation of Tennessee’s cellular emergency program and its impact on alcohol-related crashes. For each article, I will identify the research design, the type of data used, the sampling procedures, the dependent variables, key findings, and limitations. This systematic critique aims to elucidate these research aspects clearly to someone unfamiliar with research methodologies, emphasizing clarity and depth.

Article 1: Guerette (2007) – Immigration Policy, Border Security, and Migrant Deaths

Research Design: Guerette employed a quasi-experimental impact evaluation design. This design involves comparing outcomes before and after policy implementation in different regions, without random assignment, to infer causality (Shadish, Cook, & Campbell, 2002). The study focused on evaluating the impact of the Border Safety Initiative on migrant deaths by analyzing mortality data across specific geographic areas.

Type of Data: The study used secondary data, primarily from official records, such as migrant death records collected by border agencies, along with policy implementation data and geographic information systems (GIS) data for spatial analysis (Guerette, 2007). Data were aggregated temporally to assess changes over different periods.

Sampling Procedure: The study used a form of purposive sampling by selecting specific border regions where the Border Safety Initiative was implemented. Data from these regions were compared with regions where the policy was not enforced or minimally enforced, effectively creating a comparison group for assessing policy impact (Guerette, 2007).

Dependent Variable: The primary dependent variable was the number of migrant deaths occurring at the border during specific timeframes, measured annually or quarterly, depending on data availability.

Key Findings: Guerette found that the implementation of the Border Safety Initiative was associated with a statistically significant reduction in migrant deaths in targeted regions. The study suggested that increased border security and safety measures could save lives, indicating the effectiveness of the policy.

Limitations:

• Threats to Internal Validity: As a quasi-experimental design, other unmeasured factors such as economic shifts or changes in migrant routes could confound results, making it difficult to establish causality definitively.
• Data Reliability: The accuracy of migrant death data may be compromised due to underreporting or misclassification, affecting the validity of the findings.
• Selection Bias: The regions selected for analysis may not be representative of all border areas, limiting the generalizability of the results.

Article 2: Kovandzic, Sloan, & Vieraitis (2004) – 'Striking Out' Laws and Crime Rates

Research Design: This study utilized a longitudinal, ecological research design with a before-and-after comparison across multiple U.S. cities. It involved quantitative analysis of crime data pre- and post-implementation of 'Three Strikes' laws, allowing for temporal and spatial comparisons (Johnson & Bowers, 2010).

Type of Data: The study analyzed secondary crime data from police records, including index crimes such as property crimes and violent crimes, gathered from databases like the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program (Kovandzic et al., 2004).

Sampling Procedure: The researchers employed a purposive sampling by selecting U.S. cities that adopted the 'Three Strikes' law during the study period and comparing them with similar cities that did not adopt such policies to control for city-specific characteristics (Kovandzic et al., 2004).

Dependent Variable: The main dependent variable was the rate of violent and property crimes per 100,000 residents, measured annually for each city involved in the analysis.

Key Findings: Kovandzic et al. found that the enactment of 'Three Strikes' laws was associated with statistically significant reductions in property crimes but had inconsistent effects on violent crimes. The findings suggested that such laws might be effective in reducing certain types of crime but with mixed results overall.

Limitations:

• Threats to Internal Validity: The study’s observational nature means uncontrolled confounding variables, such as other policing strategies or socioeconomic changes, could influence crime rates independently of 'Three Strikes' laws.
• Measurement Bias: Crime reporting practices may vary across cities and over time, affecting the reliability of the data.
• Generalizability: Findings from selected cities may not extend statewide or nationally, especially considering demographic and policy differences.

Article 3: D’Alessio, Stolzenberg, & Terry (1999) – Tennessee’s Emergency Cellular Program

Research Design: The study employed a quasi-experimental design, specifically using a pretest-posttest approach with a comparison group, to evaluate the impact of Tennessee’s cellular emergency program on alcohol-related fatal crashes (Campbell & Stanley, 1966).

Type of Data: Researchers used secondary data from state traffic crash reports, focusing on alcohol-related fatalities before and after program implementation, supplemented with data on cellular phone usage and policy deployment timelines (D’Alessio et al., 1999).

Sampling Procedure: The study sampled all traffic crash records from Tennessee during the study period, with comparison groups from neighboring states without similar programs, employing a comparative case study approach (D’Alessio et al., 1999).

Dependent Variable: The dependent variable was the number of alcohol-related fatal crashes reported annually in Tennessee relative to comparison states.

Key Findings: The research concluded that Tennessee’s cellular emergency program was associated with a significant reduction in alcohol-related fatalities, particularly during nighttime hours when cellular phone usage was more prevalent (D’Alessio et al., 1999). The study suggested technological intervention as an effective public safety tool.

Limitations:

• Threats to Validity: External factors such as changing drunk driving laws or increased public awareness could confound results, reducing internal validity.
• Data Reliability: Variability in crash reporting accuracy across jurisdictions might threaten data reliability.
• Selection Bias: The comparison states’ different traffic patterns or demographic factors could influence outcomes, limiting the causal inferences.

Conclusion

Through this critique, it is evident that all three studies employ quasi-experimental designs suitable for policy evaluation, utilize secondary data, and focus on observable outcomes. However, common limitations include threats to internal and external validity, potential measurement biases, and issues with generalizability. Recognizing these methodological aspects helps in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of research findings, emphasizing the importance of critical appraisal in applying research to practice.

References

• Campbell, D. T., & Stanley, J. C. (1966). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Houghton Mifflin.
• 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).
• Johnson, S., & Bowers, K. (2010). Variables in Crime Prevention Research. Criminology & Public Policy, 9(2), 183-202.
• 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), 237–259.
• D’Alessio, S., Stolzenberg, L., & Terry, W. C. (1999). “Eyes on the Street”: The Impact of Tennessee’s Emergency Cellular Telephone Program on Alcohol-related Fatal Crashes. Crime and Delinquency, 45(4), 529-546.
• Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs. Houghton Mifflin.
• Additional scholarly sources to support methodology analysis, such as Groves & Couper (2012), and Raosoft (2004), could be included as needed.