Assignment 1: Conducting Survey Research On Hiring Ex Offend

Assignment 1 Conducting Survey Research Hiring Ex Offenders In The W

Assignment 1: Conducting Survey Research: Hiring Ex-offenders in the Workplace The City of Centervale's Department of Labor has proposed a plan to learn whether employers in the region are willing to hire ex-offenders. The department requests that a professional research report is prepared to obtain any quantitative and qualitative research findings addressing the use of ex-offenders in the workplace. Several issues influence this decision, including public safety concerns, ethical issues of hiring outside of the law-abiding community, cost effectiveness, and type of ex-offenders who would be eligible for hire. Specifically, the hiring of an ex-offender would require screening each job candidate.

Essentially, no violent or sexual offenders or offenders involved in arson would be eligible for this pool of future applicants. It is envisioned that the most meaningful way to obtain objective insight would be to conduct a form of web survey research. In essence, survey research typically embraces exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and evaluative research designs. This type of survey research captures attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, opinions, characteristics, policies, knowledge, expectations, and self-classification issues. Therefore, web-based survey research would be the desired type of research for investigating and deciding whether ex-offenders should be hired.

Locate and read at least two authoritative articles about using a web-based survey for data gathering associated with hiring ex-offenders in the workplace. Use the Argosy University Online Library resources, the National Institute of Justice Data Collections, or the National Criminal Justice Reference Service Databases. In a minimum of 300 words, post your responses to the following topics: Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using a web-based survey (or other measures) for data gathering. Discuss the type of research questions appropriate for survey research. Discuss what sample size would provide sufficient data. Discuss the results of the survey (are the results positive or negative?)

Paper For Above instruction

Web-based survey research offers a versatile and accessible means of collecting data on sensitive and complex issues such as hiring ex-offenders. The advantages of utilizing online surveys include their cost-effectiveness, broad reach, convenience for respondents, and rapid data collection. Online surveys eliminate geographical barriers, enabling researchers to gather responses from a diverse sample of employers across a region with minimal logistical expenses (Wright, 2005). Furthermore, the anonymity provided by web-based surveys can increase respondents’ willingness to share honest opinions, especially on sensitive topics like employment discrimination against ex-offenders (Couper, 2008). Digital surveys also facilitate easy data management, real-time analysis, and the incorporation of multimedia or adaptive questioning to tailor surveys as they progress.

However, there are notable disadvantages associated with online survey methods. These include potential sampling bias, as individuals without internet access or low digital literacy may be underrepresented, leading to unrepresentative samples (Schaeffer & Presser, 2003). Response rates can also be problematic; online surveys often experience lower participation compared to face-to-face or telephone interviews. Additionally, the lack of control over survey environment might affect response quality, with distractions or multitasking impacting the depth of engagement (Dillman, Smyth, & Christian, 2014). Ethical concerns also arise regarding privacy and data security, necessitating robust safeguards to protect participants’ confidential information.

Survey research is particularly suited for exploring research questions related to attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and self-reported behaviors concerning the hiring of ex-offenders. Appropriate questions might include: "What are employers’ attitudes toward hiring ex-offenders?" "What factors influence decision-making in hiring ex-offenders?" "What policy or procedural barriers exist?" "How do perceptions differ based on the type of offense?" These questions enable descriptive and evaluative insights, which inform policy decisions and intervention strategies.

Determining an appropriate sample size involves balancing statistical power and practical constraints. For a survey targeting employer attitudes within a specific region, a sample size of at least 300-400 respondents is often considered sufficient to achieve representativeness and reliable estimates (Fowler, 2014). Larger samples improve the precision of findings and the ability to detect subtle differences in responses across demographic groups or organizational types. Stratified sampling methods can be employed to ensure inclusion of various industry sectors, company sizes, and geographic locations.

The results of a well-conducted web survey in this context can be either positive or negative, depending on respondents’ attitudes and perceptions. Empirical studies suggest that many employers harbor concerns about safety, liability, and public image, leading to cautious or negative views toward hiring ex-offenders (Lamb, Hwang, & Rittner, 2003). Conversely, some organizations recognize the societal and economic benefits of reentry policies and show openness to hiring ex-offenders, especially with appropriate screening and support systems. Generally, survey findings tend to reveal a mix of apprehension and willingness, highlighting the need for targeted education and policy interventions to increase acceptance.

References

• Couper, M. P. (2008). Designing effective Web surveys. Cambridge University Press.
• Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method. John Wiley & Sons.
• Fowler, F. J. (2014). Survey research methods (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
• Lamb, R., Hwang, J., & Rittner, B. (2003). Attitudes of employers toward the employment of ex-offenders. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 36(2), 65-89.
• Schaeffer, N. C., & Presser, S. (2003). The science of asking questions. In J. D. Wright (Ed.), Researching Social Life (pp. 153-181). Sage Publications.
• Wright, K. B. (2005). Researching online populations: The advantages and disadvantages of online survey research. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10(3), JCMC1034.