Analyses of Works of Emma Wincup, Alan Bryam, David Utting, Kultar Singh and Others - Coursework Example

Literature Review Understanding crime and social policy by Emma Wincup looks at the relationship between social policy and crime from an empirical and theoretical approach. She analyzes several government policies reflecting upon the various influences that tend to shape the coming up of crime prevention policies, the increased role of a welfare state in tackling crime as well as the constantly changing nature of the government. The book uses a variety of policy examples and offers an analysis of these close connections between social policy agendas and crime reduction. Children Behaving Badly: Peer Violence Between Children and Young People by Christine Barter and David Berridge seeks to address the often complex issue of peer influence from a wide range of perspectives and disciplines. The book provides significant insights into the theoretical understanding of the issue and produces important implications for practice and policy developments. It is based on the latest research evidence including several findings that are yet to be published from experts in various related fields. The authors challenge several damaging populist representations of violence amongst youth. Contemporary Social Evils by David Utting seeks to explain the underlying social ills that plague the British Society in the 21st Century. The book taps into the findings of the consultation amongst leading activists and thinkers that was spearheaded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. All the findings have been brought together in the book by the author. There are also individual contributors that are drawn from a wide range of the political spectrum. The author states that even though poverty is the key cause of social harm, there are other recent causes of societal misery like the rapid increase in selfish consumerism and a gradual reduction in family commitment as well as personal responsibility. Social Research Methods by Alan Bryam is a lively and engaging textbook. The author presents readers with an all-encompassing and updated guide to the principle methodology and techniques in the Social Research field. He adopts a user-friendly format and uses an encyclopaedic introduction to methodology used in social research. The author considers a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods so as to help the reader identify the most suitable approach to be used in conducting research. The book guides the through several aspects of the normal research processes that include objective formulation, choosing the appropriate research methods, identifying the research participants in addition to advice on how best to collect, analyse and interpret the collected data and distribute the findings to other subjects. Quantitative Social Research Methods by Kultar Singh seeks to explore the entire field of quantitative social research methods and its application. The book covers a wide range of several analysis and research methods with a strong emphasis on analysis techniques like logistic regression, regression analysis techniques, logistic regression, cluster, conjoint analysis as well as correspondence. The book is divided into two sections; the first introduces the various development research techniques, looks at the genesis and scope of the social research as well as the relevant research processes. The second part of the book looks at the appropriate application of social research methodology in the development sector. It analyzes the application of the various research methods including issues that are relevant to the research and affect the given population like poverty, nutrition, rural development, water and sanitation, education as well as the management of the environment and natural resources. Research Methods in the social sciences by Bridget Somekh and Cathy Lewin provides a good balance between practical application in social sciences and theory. The book helps a student to develop a good understanding of the various methods of inquiry that are available. The author explains in great detail all the main aspects of social science research in an easy to understand manner. The book contains the input of several active researchers that are well qualified in their areas of expertise. It introduces all the main quantitative and qualitative research methods. It has narrated accounts of how to carry out proper research designs and methods that are shaped by the methodology used. The book is a suitable pedagogical tool. It is set out as a dialogue between practices and theory that allows both scholars and novices to better understand how critical interpretive research is normally carried out. The Basics of Social Research by Earl Babbie offers the reader a straightforward introduction to the field of social research methods as they are done by established social scientists. The author’s qualitative coverage that is combined with the relevant qualitative sources make the book a vital resource for aspiring social scientists. The book however has a stronger emphasis on practical applications and qualitative research methods. The book is engaging enough to assist students in connecting the dots between real world and the world of social research. Aims and Objectives of the Research The main aims and objectives of this research paper is to find out the following about knife crime in the United Kingdom;- To find out the extent to which weapons and knives are used and carried by the youthful segment of the society. The factors that lead to the increase in using and carrying of knives in the United Kingdom. The range of knives and several other weapons that are used to commit these crimes. The main areas in where this kind of crime is most common and societies that are most affected. The types of individuals that use and carry knives in addition to other weapons Whether it is females or males or both that use and carry knives The various approaches that are being used to tackle this crime by the government and other organizations. Research Methodology The research methodology that would be adopted will be as follows;- Conducting an electronic survey on 150 youth that are undergoing the Knife Crime Prevention Programme A further paper based survey that on an additional 150 people from various youth offending teams at various stages of exit or entry into the various knife crime prevention programme. Conducting various site visits to another 50 young people that are living in the area that is most affected by knife crime in the United Kingdom. Research Ethics These are principles on how the person conducting the research should deal with the research participants , colleagues and other researchers as well as the general society in which the research is being conducted. It is important to consider research ethics while conducting the research due to the following reasons;- This will ensure that the research activity does not harm the participants in any particular way or cause them to feel disrespected. This is particularly important in this case since most of the participants may have undergone traumatic events due to being the victim or the aggressor of the crime involving the knife. These ethics will also ensure that the researchers are able to secure funding from the relevant organizations to fund the research. Failure to carry out an ethical research may lead to the community rejecting the researcher or not giving accurate information thus tainting the end results of the research. The following will be the minimal standards that would be observed when carrying out the research on knife crime in the United Kingdom;- I will ensure that I recruit the research participants based solely on their free consent that has not been motivated by any gain whatsoever e.g. monetary or any other favors The collected data will be securely and confidentially kept so as to respect the privacy of the research participants. Names of the participants will be replaced by code names to ensure that their privacy considerations are fulfilled on my end. I will make the methods, findings and procedures as transparent as possible to ensure that they can be accessed by whoever is concerned as well as the participants of the research activity. Since the activity is about knife crime in the United Kingdom, I will have to put in place extra measures that ensure the participants are not exposed to harm that may come as a result of answering sensitive questions about this vice. 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