Qualitative Research in the Field of Forensics - Assignment Example

Introduction Qualitative research plays a very important role in the field of forensics. For instance, one might want to research a new and improved technology that has not been thought of that will enable those in the field to better solve crime cases, which will help to procure justice for those who were victimized. In the cases where the victims have been murdered, improved technologies will enable criminal investigators to gather all of the information that they need, which will give them all of the details that the murder victim was unable to provide, in order to have the criminal prosecuted, thus bringing justice to the victim’s family and friends. Qualitative research also enables forensic workers to discover which of the already existing methods and technologies do better at coming to a conclusion, such as the cause of death, how a person’s last moments played out, who committed the crime or analysis of the mind of the criminal and his motives through various psychological evaluation methods. After extensive research is done on various testing methods and technologies, the old and less effective ones are weeded out, and the testing methods and technologies that prove to be the most reliable are used. It is through extensive research that those in the field of forensics use nothing but the best to complete their tasks. Such research has even been done to individuals in the military. For instance, there was a study that was conducted with three groups of military personnel to show how people are able to fake personalities on a personality inventory (Zickar and Robie, 1999). When this information was gathered, it was then used to determine how to better determine what people’s personalities were like. Forensics and other professionals could use this information to further develop much better tools for measuring people and determining their personality types, bypassing when they might fake who they are in order to influence their fate, especially if they should be the ones who have committed the crime. Criminals are very intelligent people, thus they may use this to their advantage. It is up to the researchers and forensic specialists to stay one step ahead of them, always searching out which tools are the best to get the job done, hence the reason that qualitative research plays an important role in the field of forensics. Chapters 1. Constructs and Themes as it relates to the Field of Forensics 2. Assessing Credibility and Integrity of Constructs and Themes 3. Outcomes and Conclusions 1. Constructs and Themes as it relates to the Field of Forensics According to an article published on the web, constructs are only theories that cannot be directly or indirectly observed. Constructs are only based on observations that may take place over a period of time, which enables the researcher to develop such theories (Pen State University, 2009). In the field of forensics, there are a number of constructs that are measured for reliability and integrity. For example, one might make the observation that people are able to fake their personality types on a personality inventory (Zickar and Robie, 1999). Another construct is that there are a number of effective methods for medical professionals to achieve a diagnosis that is truthful and correct (Swets, 1973). Such diagnosis might pertain to the cause of death or a psychological disorder that the criminal is suffering from that has played a major role in the committing of the crime. And then there is the theory that certain groups may commit more crimes than others. Because these constructs are just simply theories, research methods need to be applied to assess the credibility and validity of such theories. Only then can these theories be applied to the field of forensics. As far as the themes are concerned, the themes are what the study and research is centered around. To illustrate this, one might want to prove the construct to be valid and credible that people taking the personality inventory are able to fake on the test, portraying whatever personality they think will give them the results they wish to obtain for themselves. The study and research will keep to this particular theme the entire time, not once deviating. 2. Assessing Credibility and Integrity of Constructs and Themes Each individual theory needs to be intensely tested and evaluated in order to prove credibility and validity. For instance, in order to validate the theory that people taking the personality inventory are able to fake their personality, should they have the intellect; three groups of military personnel were organized and studied. One group of personnel was to answer the questions on the personality inventory honestly. The second group of personnel were to fake the answers to the questions with the utmost effort. The third group of personnel were to fake with coaching. It was through the study of these groups that, in fact, proved the construct to be correct that if one really and truly wanted, they could easily fake themselves on the personality inventory, giving whatever answers they saw fit in order to portray themselves as whatever personality they pleased (Zickar and Robie, 1999). The theme of this research was formed around the construct that personality inventories can be faked, and all study and research followed the theme accordingly until the results were attained. Then, there is the construct that states that there are a number of ways, in regards to the field of psychology, as well as in the field of medicine, that there are a number of ways that clinicians and psychological professionals can determine whether or not a diagnosis is true or false. To be sure that they could validate this theory, and to be sure that it was credible, the theory was subjected to a number of various research methods to be thoroughly tested. One method that was mentioned was the ROC, an analytical technique that originates with “with origins in statistical decision theory and electronic detection theory, that quite effectively isolates the effects of the observers response bias, or decision criterion, in the study of discrimination behavior.” (Swets, 1973) With the ROC technique, these professionals were able to correctly assess and analyze “the discriminability of different stimuli” along with the capability of various organisms to single out elements as a result of being bias (Swets, 1973). One the analysis is complete, we can then clearly see the expectations and motivations of the one making the observation, as well as coming up with practical solutions to solve certain problems, such as determine the validity of a diagnosis, relaying information to the patient being evaluated, and formulating a plan that consists of steps to move forward in problem solving, such as determining the cause of death. Finally, there is the construct that certain groups of people may be apt to commit more crimes than others. In order to give this particular construct some credibility and validity, researchers would conduct case studies on said focus groups to see if such a theory can be proven. When focus groups are being studied, social scientists utilize various qualitative research methods in order to find reliable information on such focus groups. The utilizing of qualitative research methods to study particular focus groups has proven to be exceedingly helpful in these past few years and has provided professions of various disciplines the information that they need to better help and understand people belonging to various societal groups (Morgan and Spanish, 1984). Taking the case study approach to research has also proven to be helpful in this regard, in the way that these groups of people are evaluated in their own element, which enables researchers to get a good idea as to how these people function and behave. Professionals making use of the case study method of research are also able to see how people deal with and cope with various situations and problems that are an integral part of their lives. Such a method has been in use for a great number of decades, and is carefully crafted and planned when it is put into practice; it is excellent in determining whether or not these focus groups are at risk of creating far more crimes compared to that of the general population. One can study a number of reports across a variety of disciplines to see that the case study method of research has been incredibly effective and successful in gathering information and reaching conclusions that are sound, valid, and credible (Soy, 1997). 3. Conclusions and Outcomes In order to continue to evaluate various constructs as it pertains to the field of forensics, one must continually research which technologies is effective at completing the task. As developers and forensics work together with a multidisciplinary team to enhance technology, the new technologies are tested and studied against a variety of qualitative research methods to see whether or not they will be able to be valuable in aiding in future research projects (Hopeful, 1997). Work Cited Hopeful, M. C. (1997). Choosing qualitative research: A primer for technology education researchers. Journal of Technology Education, 9(1), 47-63. Retrieved February 25, 1998, from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v9n1/pdf/hoepfl.pdf Morgan, D. L., & Spanish, M. T. (1984). Focus groups: A new tool for qualitative research. Qualitative Sociology, 7(3), 253-270. Pen State University. (2009). Concepts. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.personal.psu.edu/gec7/Concepts.html Soy, S. K. (1997). The case study as a research method. Unpublished paper, University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved March 30, 2009, from http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~ssoy/usesusers/l391d1b.htm Swets, J. A. (1973)."The relative operating characteristic in psychology," Journal of Science 182, 990-1000. Zickar, M. J., & Robie, C. (1999). Modeling faking at the item-level. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84, 551-563. Read More