The Crime Rate in the United States: Criminal Behavior - Research Proposal Example

Qualitative research is a type of research that can be directed to look into the numerous issues on the globe. This kind of examination typically majors on the practices of the gatherings influenced by the subject under study. Research of this type is the best research choice in situations where the many-sided quality of the issue needs to be considered[Placeholder2]. This sort of exploration works towards getting the encounters of the gatherings included with the phenomena being studied. In this manner, a generally led qualitative examination can help one know the degree to which a few issues have gotten critical. In-setting perceptions, interviews and extensive discussions are some of the methods employed in this type of research[Aca11]. Criminal activities in most parts of the world are increasing due to some factors which economists and sociologists believe can be controlled[CIC13]. For example, the crime rate in the United States is considered to be low as compared other parts of the world but still high. Regions of Africa and South America are the most affected areas with the increasing rates of criminal activities. It is important to look at the causes of these increasing levels of crimes since lives are lost from such criminal activities. Some of the major factors behind increasing crime rates are lack of job opportunities among the youth and urbanization in general. Looking into the effects of these criminal behaviors in our society is also crucial since it would give the community reasons to fight this ill in the society. Finally, a research on how to fight this problem would be necessary[Cle12]. Criminal Behavior A crime is an activity that a person or a group engages in but the law of the land is against. These activities can be acts that affect other people are those that affect just the doers of the activities. The general perspective of criminal behavior looks at all the parties at stake when such an unlawful action is taken[Fed13]. The rate of criminal activities in our countries has been on the increases. The number of unlawful activities that government authorities record every year is today higher than the number recorded back in the early 2000s. The size of data about lives lost in the line of handling criminal activities have also become bigger over years to date. The world is now left alert about these increasing criminal rates as the entire generation from the West to the East is affected by the problem[Uni14]. This calls for a research on the causes of the increase on criminal behaviors. Before getting to study this, it is important to let everyone know the different forms of criminal activities that one can get involved with[Cle12]. Some of these criminal behaviors include illegal drug dealing, rape, theft, child molesting and fraud. More of these activities are being recorded nowadays and this can be attributed to the negative impacts of urbanization that include unemployment. Some individuals get into criminal activities so that they can get some cash to sustain them in the city. Another major cause of increased criminal behaviors is decay in the morals of the society. Some youth get into drugs due to peer pressure and later on engage in criminal activities so that they can raise cash to buy more drugs[Jef13]. Reasons for Using Qualitative Perspective A qualitative research is important in scenarios where the phenomena under study involve the behaviors of the population being studied towards these same phenomena. This type of study majors on describing the reactions and opinions rather than proving theories. This makes it a style of study that would always look into the characters of a party under study and its influences[Placeholder2]. A study on criminal behavior would involve studying the behaviors of different people to analyze if the behaviors are accepted by the law. Since many people engaging in crimes tend to hide their participation, a study that systematically analyzes the traits of the population and comes up with conclusions would be important[Placeholder2]. Researching on criminal behavior also requires the researcher to look at the stages of life changes of the suspected person to be studied. A part from the research population, the other standards that are used to study this phenomenon might dictate the use of qualitative research for this topic. A look into the current world’ moral decay calls for an approach that is descriptive in nature[Hoe12]. A qualitative research looks into the characteristics of a phenomenon and behaviors of the population under study. This type of study also helps the researcher to come out with a set of results that is descriptive. A successful study of criminal behavior would require the techniques of a qualitative research. Therefore I pick qualitative research perspective for my study that is aimed to helping the world control this global problem[Placeholder1]. Research Problem The number of criminal activities has been going up in different parts of the world as other sources claim this statistics is still going to take an upward trend for some years to come. South America is leading with illegal drug dealings and part of the East is at the front in matters involving human rights violation and molestation. Death tolls due to activities related to criminal behaviors are also rising putting the world into a dilemma of how to control this problem[Lap12]. Relevant government and international bodies are left with one major task of finding the best way to curb this issue of crime rates which is so rampant in the urban centers than in the rural settings. The best way to find a solution to a problem is by first getting to the causes of the problem and trying to work on them[Cre11]. Therefore, this asks for a detailed research on the criminal behaviors that would help expose the cause the increasing crime rates in the world. Another major problem that this research would seek to tackle is the increasing number of young children being involved in criminal activities. Lately, younger kids are being introduced into criminal actions and they end up being so much involved in these activities. The community needs to find a way to protect this generation and the future one from criminal activities[Hoe12]. Appropriate Design for the Study The best design to use for a research on criminal behavior is the case study design. A case study design is important in studies where the behavior of the research population is needed. In this design the researcher seeks to identify several traits of the picked population in relation to the phenomenon being studied in the research[Cle12]. Studying criminal behavior entails getting to the area of study and analyzing the activities that the people in the area got involved in. This might require conducting several case studies in the area to find out the illegal activities done in the area and how they influence the lives of the residents of that area. Discussing Other Qualitative Research Designs Phenomenological design of qualitative research is employed by researchers who want to look into different phenomena and how they influence the people. It usually picks a small group of around five to ten people to be analyzed[Mor12]. The individuals are asked the specific factors studied affect their lives. Such design cannot be used to research on criminal behavior which entails going to study specific behaviors. A study that can be done using the phenomenological design is a study of the effect of hot climate on settlement of people[Cre11]. Ethnographic design is a design that looks into the social life and culture of different people or animals. This can be a research on how people of a specific culture dress or communicate to each other. The way in which this study design is conducted makes it inappropriate for my topic. The fact that it also majors on culture alone also makes it inappropriate. An example of a study that can use this design is a study of the black rhinos in East Africa[Cre11]. The grounded theory design is a qualitative research design that is in need of coming up with a theory from data collected from the research thus it is a theoretical model of study[Hoe12]. A good example is a research that wants to relate the income level to the size of family. A study of criminal behavior cannot be done properly using this design. Content analysis is a design that is usually picked when we want to study the events of a specific individual. Mostly, the events that occurred earlier on are used to predict possible future outcomes[Aca11]. Big industries prefer using such a model to help them plan for their future. Content analysis would not be the best option for a study of criminal behaviors since crime has become a global problem that needs studying a bigger population. Rationale for My Approach I picked a qualitative research for this study because it is going to give me more room to study criminal behaviors in an appropriate way[Mor12]. This model of study majors on the traits of the study population and this is what my study requires. A qualitative research also aims at obtaining descriptive results which would be easier to use in a case where a factor such as crime that affects human lives is discussed. Using a case study design is also a wise choice since this design gives room for adequate studies on the people in the area of study and their way of life[Aca11]. Case studies are going to expose some of the criminal activities that people do either knowingly or unknowingly. Good information on the people in the area of research makes studying of criminal activities in the area easier. Conclusion Criminal activities add up to the many causes of insecurity in the world today. Making the issue more serious is the connection of terrorism with criminal activities. Some activities such as smuggling of firearms support terror activities and this asks the whole human race to fight against both terrorism and crime[CIC13]. The increasing number of people who lose their lives due to criminal activities also pushes the world to end these illegal activities[Sam12]. Involvement of young kids in these actions makes the case worse and critical thus the need for a proper qualitative research on criminal behavior. My study seeks to help the world realize and accept that crime rates are increasing faster and this is dangerous to the world both economically and from a social point of view[Fed13]. My research is to help the society come up with strategies on how to control the problem of criminal behaviors in the world. References Placeholder2: , (Baxter & Jack, 2011), Aca11: , (Academy of Management, 2011), CIC13: , (CICITAS CRIME, 2013), Cle12: , (Clear, 2012), Fed13: , (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2013), Uni14: , (Uniform Crime Reports, 2014), Jef13: , (Jeffery, 2013), Hoe12: , (Hoepfl, 2012), Placeholder1: , ( Sociology Press , 2013), Lap12: , (Lapan, 2012), Cre11: , (Creswell, 2011), Mor12: , (Morley, 2012), Sam12: , (Sampson, 2012), Read More