Assessing the validity of college samples: Are students really that different - Essay Example

Assessing the validity of college samples: Are really that different Provide a brief synopsis of the article and the major findings. The research aims to explore the validity of using college students as samples for criminology and criminal justice research (Wiecko 1186). The study was conducted due to some claims that using college students as samples for criminology research is not valid because of their characteristics which are significantly different from other groups in society. The major finding of the study is that college students can be valid samples in researches on criminology and criminal justice.

The study reveals that college student also engage in activities which are similar to non-college students. There are very slight differences in their attitudes towards criminality as compared to non-college students. However the study also showed that college students are less likely to engage in criminal activities partly because their environment provides less opportunity for committing such offenses.2. What is the purpose of the study? The purpose of the study is to determine whether college students are the appropriate subjects of research which deal with criminology.

This study will be of interest to other researchers in the field of criminology as it might affect their theories and findings if college students are used and they turn out to be an inappropriate sample. 3. Who might the potential target audience be for this type of research? The potential target audiences for this type of research are those who are conducting research on criminology and the criminal justice system using college students as their samples.4. What is the data source? The data source is the National Youth Survey Series which is “one of the longest running and most extensive investigations into adolescent and young adult behaviors and attitudes in the world and consists of individuals in age groups pertinent to the research question at hand” (Wiecko 1187).5. What type of data is this (i.e. cross-sectional or longitudinal and if so what kind of longitudinal data)?

The type of data used is cross-sectional because the information was gathered on a population at a single point in time only (Ischool.utexas.edu , par 3). 6. What are the limitations of this research? One of the limitations of the research is that it was not possible to determine who among the students attended different types of educational institutions. Another limitation is that the NYS is becoming obsolete so much so that it may not reflect the current trends in the study of criminology.

The NYS data was collected in 1983 and the measures used may no longer be applicable at present. Since the research is based on self-reported behaviors, one tends to question the truthfulness of those answering the survey.7. What are some of the questions the research does not answer that you may want to know more about? The research did not give information on the college and non-college student’s economic class or status. One believes that this data has an effect on the tendency to commit a crime.

Furthermore, the study did not offer detailed information on the profile of the non-college students and how they were chosen. One would have wanted to know also whether college students may be considered as valid samples in other researches other than those involved in criminality. Works CitedIschool.utexas.edu. "Survey methods." n.d. ischool.utexas.edu. Web. 13 September 2012 .Wiecko, Filip M. "Research note: Assessing the validity of college samples: Are students really that different?" Journal of Criminal Justice 38 (2010): 1186-1190. Print.