Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population - Research Paper Example

 Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population The title of this article provides the readers with a clear idea that the research study will focus on examining violent offenders in a deaf prison population. However, the authors failed to make use of article title that precisely identify the problem area, specify the dependent and independent variables used in this study, or even state where the authors conducted the actual research study. The Problem Miller, Vernon, & Capella (2005) provided a clear explaination as to why the research study needs to be conducted. Contrary to the misconception back in 1960s, it is wrong to believe that deaf individuals to have more capability of committing violent crimes and sexual deviances simply because several studies revealed that not all deaf individuals will aggressively respond to social isolation or minimal communication to other people (Young, Monteiro, & Ridgeway, 2000; Vernon & Greenberg, 1999). Likewise, Miller, Vernon, & Capella (2005) noted that there were several authors who over-represented the number of inmates with hearing loss that were held prisoners in country jails or the state prison cells (Zingeser, 1999; Jensema, 1990). The authors also considered the significance of the research topic. Upon investigating the previous research studies that were conducted by other researchers concerning the deaf offenders (Miller & Vernon, 2002; Young, Monteiro, & Ridgeway, 2000; Vernon & Greenberg, 1999), the authors strongly suggested the need to compare and contrast the degree and types of violent offenses that were made by the deaf and hearing prison population because of the high incidence of psychiatric misdiagnoses due to lack of familiarity with deafness. According to Miller, Vernon, & Capella (2005), there were quite a lot of previously available research studies that carefully examines the different patterns behind the offending behaviors made by deaf individuals and those without hearing problems. However, most of these studies were conducted using limited sample sizes which could somehow distort the actual research findings and analysis. As part of increasing the accuracy of the research study findings and analysis, the authors examined 99 deaf inmates with severe-to-profound hearing loss among the total of 133,680 inmates throughout the state of Texas back in 2001 (Miller, Vernon, & Capella, 2005). Review of Literature In any types of research study, the authors should provide a clear literature review that clearly identify and compare the different types of criminal and non-criminal offenses made by prisoners with and without hearing problems, discuss how the variables and key terms are clearly defined, and examine the research strategies that were used by other authors in conductng a similar research study. With this in mind, one of the weakness of this study lies behind the fact that the authors did not provide a review of literature that provides theoretical framework on how the research study will be conducted and how the identified variables should be tested (Miller, Vernon, & Capella, 2005). Even though the authors explained that it is not easy to conduct a research study regarding the violent offenses of deaf individuals beauase of the fact that the legal justice system in the United States does not actually keep records about the hearing status of each offender, the authors did not provide a literature review that examines how other authors conducted their research methodology, the use of any specific research instrumentation, or statistical analyses used in the actual research study (Miller, Vernon, & Capella, 2005). Aside from failure to develop a theoretical framework from the past research studies concerning the list of problems being investigated, the authors did not examine research strategies that will allow them to be able to obtain meaningful and relevant research study results. Despite the absence of a clear literature review, the authors provided five research questions that will be investigated in throughout the actual research study. Likewise, the authors mentioned that the research study that was conducted by Vernon & Greenberg (1999) will be used as a guide in reviewing the incidence and types of criminal and non-criminal offenses of deaf prisoners in comparison to the group of prisoners without hearing problems. Research Methodology Similar to the chosen research site of Miller & Vernon (2003), Miller, Vernon, & Capella (2005) conducted the actual research survey study in Texas prison cells primarily because of its centralized location and the fact that all the deaf offenders were already gathered in one facility. Although the authors did not provide a clear explanation as to how they managed to collect the data (i.e. when and how), the authors revealed that 99 inmates with severe-to-profound hearing loss and 127,0661 inmates without hearing problems volunteered to be a part of the research participants throughout the 90-day research period back in 2000. Adapted from the research method of Miller (2001), the authors conducted an actual research survey study and make use of chi-square to test the independence of each of the identified dependent variables (i.e. sexual assault, homicide, robbery, and assault) and independent variable like the inmates’ hearing status. Aside from determining the deaf inmates’ educational achievement and reading comprehension, the authors also tested the form of communication the deaf inmates are using (i.e. American Sign Language, home signs, minimal language skills, English, Spanish, etc). Specifically the accuracy of chi-square testing is highly dependent on the sample size of the actual research survey study. In line with this, Leon-Guerrero & Frankfort-Nachmias (2011, pp. 349 – 350) revealed that the “size of the calculated chi-square is directly proportional to the size of the sample”. It means that the smaller the sample size could lead to a distorted or inaccurate chi-square test results. Presentation and Data Analysis Specifically the quantitative results on deaf inmates’ educational achievement and reading comprehension, mode of communication, and the violent offenses made by deaf and non-deaf inmates were not only described based on the actual research survey study but were also tabulated for easy reading. Aside from providing the readers with a clear presentation and data analysis of the gathered quantitative data, the authors provided a more objective research finding. To be able to come up with a more descriptive explanation, the authors analyzed the actual quantitative research findings together with the theory and research findings of other authors. In line with this, Leong (1985) explained that the use of pure quantitative research method is effective only in terms of providing the readers with a general information about the research hypothesis. Therefore, combining the quantitative results with a descriptive information will increase the validity of the quantitative research findings. Although the authors did not state any assumptions prior to conducting the actual research study, Miller, Vernon, & Capella (2005) were honest enough to state that part of the research study limitations includes the limited available data regarding the deaf inmates’ medical files pertaining to their individual health history on the use of alcohol and drugs (i.e. were the deaf offenders intoxicated at the time they commit the crime, etc.) or whether or not the deaf offenders had medical history of psychiatric disorders (i.e. schizophrenia, etc.). Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations Although the research study results is very informative in terms of providing the readers with a clear picture concerning the violent offenses made by the deaf and non-deaf prisoners in Texas, researchers should never rely on the use of pure quantitative research study alone since the difference between the sample population being tested could distort the actual research findings. For example: Only 127,066 out of the 133,680 inmates (without hearing loss) agreed to participate in the actual research survey study. This number is sufficient enough not to distort the chi-square test result. However, readers should be aware that it is not a good idea to compare the quantitative research results of deaf and non-deaf population in terms of judging the inmates’ participation in sexual assault. Given that the total number of deaf population is only 99, it means that 32.3% (32 out of 99) deaf inmates were reported to be involved in sexual assault as compared to 12.3% (15,616 out of 127,066) non-deaf inmates who were involved in the same violent offenses. To lessen the risk of coming up with inaccurate research findings, the researcher should avoid making use of pure statistical research method. Instead, it is more logical to combine the use of quantitative with qualitative research method to increase the validity and accuracy of the actual research study result. *** End *** References Jensema, C. (1990). Hearing loss in a jail population. In Miller, K.R., Vernon, MC.; Capella, ME. (eds) "Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population" Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 2005. 10(4): 417-425. Leon-Guerrero, A., & Frankfort-Nachmias, C. (2011). Social Statistics for a Diverse Society. CA: Pine Forge Press. Leong, S. (1985). Metatheory and Metamethodology in Marketing: A Lakatosian Reconstruction. Journal of Marketing , 49: 23 - 40. Miller, K. (2001). Forensic Issues of Deaf Offenders. Retrieved April 28, 2011, from Dissertation study, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX and from “Statistical Report” by Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 2001, Huntsville, TX: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us Miller, K., & Vernon, M. (2002). Assessing linguistic diversity in deaf criminal suspects. In Miller, K.R., Vernon, MC.; Capella, ME. (eds) "Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population" Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 2005. 10(4): 417-425. Miller, K., & Vernon, M. (2003). Deaf Sex Offenders in a Prison Population. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education , 8(3): 357-362. Miller, K., Vernon, M., & Capella, M. (2005). Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education , 10(4):417-425. Vernon, M., & Greenberg, S. (1999). Violence in deaf and hard hearing people: A review of literature. In Miller, K.R., Vernon, MC.; Capella, ME. (eds) "Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population" Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 2005. 10(4): 417-425. Aggression and Violent Behavior . Young, A., Monteiro, B., & Ridgeway, S. (2000). Deaf people with mental health needs in the criminal justice system: A literature review. In Miller, K.R., Vernon, MC.; Capella, ME. (eds) "Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population" Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 2005. 10(4): 417-425. Zingeser, L. (1999). Communication disorders and violence. In Miller, K.R., Vernon, MC.; Capella, ME. (eds) "Violent Offenders in a Deaf Prison Population" Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 2005. 10(4): 417-425. Read More