METHOD IN CONTEXT (MIC)Lesson 1 – Crime and deviance the research contextOverview of research methodsExamine the different issues raised by researching crime and deviance

BY THE END OF THIS LESSON, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ...1. Identify and define the main

characteristics of crime and deviance as a context for sociological research,

2. Identify and define some of the problems and opportunities that researching issues in crime and deviance present for sociologist,

3. Identify, define and apply some of the research strategies sociologist use to investigate crime and deviance.

PRIMARY DATA

QUANTITATIVE DATA

SECONDARY DATA

QUALITATIVE DATA

TIME & MONEY

REQUIREMENTS OF FUNDING BODIES

PERSONAL SKILLS

SUBJECT MATTER

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY

INFORMED CONSENT

CONFIDENTIALITY & PRIVACY

HARMFUL EFFECTS

VULNERABLE GROUPS

COVERT RESEARCH

VALIDITY

RELIABILITY

REPRESENTATIVENESS

METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE(POSITIVIST/INTERPRETIVIST)

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE(ACTION/STRUCTURAL)

TRIANGULATION

RESEARCHING CRIME & DEVIANCE There a many different characteristics of crime &

deviance each of which presents particular problems & opportunities for the sociologist

Domestic & other violent crimes White-collar & corporate crime Young offenders Victims of crime The criminal justice system Societal reaction to crime & deviance Suicide

In pairs brain storm

the problems a sociologist may face

when researching

each of these areas

RESEARCHING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE What problems may a sociologist encounter

when....

RESEARCHING VIOLENT CRIMES What problems may a sociologist encounter

when....

RESEARCHING CORPORATE CRIME What problems may a sociologist encounter

when....

RESEARCHING YOUNG OFFENDERS What problems may a sociologist encounter

when....

RESEARCHING VICTIMS OF CRIMEWhat problems may a sociologist encounter

when....

Does everyone who experiences a crime report it?

RESEARCHING CRIMINAL JUSTICE The police Why might police officers be a difficult group

for sociologist to study? The courts and legal profession Prisons

RESEARCHING SOCIETAL REACTION What problems may a sociologist encounter

when....

RESEARCHING SUICIDE What problems may a sociologist encounter

when....

EVIDENCE THE MAIN THEMES There are 7 main themes involved

researching all the different areas of crime & deviance

Use the texts on each of the areas to complete your grid with as many examples as you can for each area

Must – 2 example of each Should – 3 example of each Could – 4 examples of each theme

...FOR EXAMPLEAccess to respondents

Prisoners – closed & controlled social settingSuicide – absence of main actor

PUB QUIZ Answer the following questions in your teams

HOMEWORK Back ground reading – Marxism (TM)