Investigate some of the many types of data available free from government websites. Open this Full Report 38 for statistics for 2006. Find the answers to the following for 2006: What was the average age at which mothers had their first child? How many pupils were there in schools in the UK? What was the average amount of outstanding debt on credit cards? What was the most common … [Read more...]
Content Analysis
In 1974 Glenys Lobban published research that showed reading material used in primary schools was very stereotyped according to gender. Only half as many female characters as male characters appeared and females were largely shown in domestic settings. By contrast, male characters were shown in active roles and a wide variety of settings. In studying 225 stories in six reading schemes, Lobban … [Read more...]
Measuring Truancy
According to statistics published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, record numbers of pupils persistently played truant in 2006-07. Around 272,950 pupils were persistent absentees last year, missing more than 20% of school - nearly 7% of pupils in secondary and 2% in primary schools. The schools minister, Kevin Brennan, said rising "unauthorised absence" figures were the … [Read more...]
Ethical Issues in PO
Punch (1994) suggests that ethical concerns can be summarised under four headings: harm; consent; deception; privacy and confidentiality of data. Explain what each of these means in the context of studying crime and deviance. Consider each of the following studies, all referred to in this section, and discuss which, if any, of the four ethical concerns might apply in each … [Read more...]
Participant and Non-Participant Observation
Although participant observation is the main observational method referred to in texts, it is important that you understand the use of non-participant observation as well. If non-participant observation is seen as ‘bird-watching’, then we also need to compare situations where the ’birds’ know they are being watched (overt) with situations where the ‘birds’ don’t know they are being watched … [Read more...]
Something to Think About : Observation
Question 1: For an early participant observation study, a group of researchers joined a religious cult whose members believed the end of the world was imminent and who were preparing for this catastrophe to make sure they all survived as the ‘chosen ones’. The researchers found it very difficult not to influence the group – by appearing to join in the group’s beliefs, they made the beliefs … [Read more...]
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