Online Child Sexual Abuse by Female Offenders - Essay Example

? Approaches to Research in Social Science: Online Child Sexual Abuse By Female Offenders: An Exploratory Study. al Affiliation: Approaches to Research in Social Science: Online Child Sexual Abuse By Female Offenders: An Exploratory Study. Research Problem and Specific Research Questions The main aim of the research is to fill a knowledge gap and raise the understanding of the issue of online child sexual abuse by women offenders. It focuses of sexual abuse of children which has become popular with the expansion of internet as well as the creation new of information technologies. The main research problem presented in the article is to establish the extent to which women are involved as online sex offenders against children. Sex offenders have been using internet in order to reach for, and distribute filthy images of children according to Martellozzo, Nehring and Taylor (2010). The issue of child sex abuse has been viewed as a male- dominated crime attributed to their masculine nature. However, currently females have also been associated with sexual abuse of children, especially online. The central question in the study revolves around how women get involved as online sex offenders abusing children. Methodological Approach Methodological approaches are broadly classified into two; quantitative and qualitative. Qualitative methods commonly involve three methods of data collection; direct observation, open ended interviews and secondary data analysis. Typically, data for qualitative evaluation is drawn from the field and is often useful in explaining how and why things happen the way they do. On the other hand quantitative methods involve data that is in numerical form. Quantitative data typically seeks to answer questions in the form of how often, how many, where and when. Mostly, questionnaires are used to obtain data when quantitative data is to be obtained. The methodological approach used in the study is qualitative. This approach involves the use of data which has been acquired from both secondary and primary sources. For secondary data, post-arrest interview records obtained in the past last five years were used in the study. Secondly expert interviews were also used in which practitioners from the field of criminal justice were involved in 2010 (Martellozzo, Nehring and Taylor, 2010). The expert interviews helped in giving insights into the ongoing children sex abuse by women. The study also involved analyzing police reports relating to online female sex offenses with children as the victims. These were useful in offering insight into the extent of women involvement in such crimes. Yet again, the study involved accounts presented by online sex offenders. The questions asked in the interviews were exploratory thereby requiring descriptive answers. The use of open-ended questions during interviews, associated with the qualitative approach, was important as it led to the establishment of vital facts. Research Methods There is various research methods have been used in this study. They include interviews both personal interview and online interview. During these interviews information on online child sexual abuse was recorded for future use. This was used in interviewing the experts such as the criminal justice field. Observation has also been another research method used in data collecting according to Kothari (2008). In this case the researcher would visit the internet and access those images of children which have been posted. Similarly researcher would appear in court during cases of those who have been convicted with such crime. Another research method used was the literature review whereby police reports and cases were used to determine the extent and rate of women child sexual abuse through online. The sampling strategy used in this study is probability sampling whereby those interviewed were randomly selected. In this respect the sample used was representative of the population of female offenders who target children in their online activities. In the study, fifteen online women offenders charged with child sexual abuse were selected randomly to represent the overall number. Similarly six experts of the criminal justice field were also selected randomly to represent the whole field. The use of probability sampling was significant for this study as it ensured that those who provided research information were representative of the population. Furthermore, random sampling was more convenient and easier to effect compared to non-probability sampling methods. Data Analysis The data collected was analyzed in various ways. For instance a volunteer team of police officers as well as analysts debriefed the female offenders who were already convicted. The use of exploratory research methods was helpful in providing a description of the nature of the problem under study. The specific narratives obtained in the interviews ensured quick simple analysis which shaped a social condition in which more information emerged. The data was analyzed in terms of how the current social, cultural and economic situations would lead to sexual abuse of children by women. For good data analysis, a group of police officer and female online sexual offenders were interviewed so as to gain insight into the mater. To avoid bias in the analysis, objectivity is ensured in data collection hence leading to objective analysis as suggested by Kothari (2008). Scope The study was restricted to determining the reasons behind women’s engagement in child sexual abuse and the extent to which they are involved. In respect of the same, the study precludes male offenders. Yet again, the study precludes women offenders who committed crimes offline. The study was also limited geographically to the United Kingdom (Martellozzo, Nehring, & Taylor, 2010 p599). Yet another limitation with respect to the study was in respect of the limited number of documents referred to during the study detailing police operations in relation to the subject. In this respect, the study does not seek to form empirical generalizations regarding female online child sexual offenses. In spite of the limitations afore-mentioned, the study remains reliable and is useful as a starting point for further research. Limitations of Validity and Reliability of the Study Validity is used in establishing whether or not research measures what it was meant to measure, and to make approximations of facts of the results according to Bryman (2008). In respect of limitations, this study does not provide some basic information important for the development of research in relation to online sexual abuse of children. Yet again, the participants used in the study were relatively few. To have more representative samples, the respondents involved should have been more. The validity of the study can be proved partly by thee fact that the study guaranteed confidentiality and anonymity of the participants which are important aspects in any research undertaking. The research assured respondents of anonymity which enhanced their freedom to share their experiences and reveal their thoughts. Anonymity is an important measure of validity as it enables the research to be objective in a given study. The fact that the study remains faithful to the responded assures quality results. The empirical results of the study ensure that there is no ambiguity in the public domain and debates in regard to online child sexual abuse. Reliability refers to the consistency of research measures (Bryman, 2008). The extent to which a study is reliable is a precursor to the level of its applicability in practice. In the study of child sexual abuse by women, empirical findings have been established which facilitate the reliability of the results. The study’s reliability is heightened by the fact that it relies on evidence as provided by past studies. The study relies on a number of reliable secondary sources which form the basis upon which new knowledge is established. Conclusion In summary the findings of this research have shown that online sexual abuse of children by women has been on the increase with increasing use and access to the Internet. It has also been established that women engage in this kind of crime for a variety of reasons. It also established women are victims of this coercion and abuse due to the fact that they the only gender which is more close to children hence can easily manipulate children’s thinking. The study has established that the number of women engaged in online children abuse is increasing year after year due to the growing need for this business. The study, given its scope and limitations, establishes itself as a starting point and recommends further research in respect of the subject of online female sexual offenses against children. This is especially so considering that very little study has been conducted so far in relation to the subject. The study concludes that the problem at hand with women as the offenders is growing in significance and should not be ignored. References Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods, (3rd Ed). OUP: Oxford. Martellozzo, E. Nehring, D. & Taylor, H. (2010). Online child sexual abuse by female offenders: An exploratory study. [Accessed 20 Feb, 2012] http://www.cybercrimejournal.com/elenaetal2010ijcc.pdf Kothari,C.R. (2008). Research Methodology: methods and techniques. New Delhi: New Age International. Read More