The Fear of Crime among People - Research Proposal Example

Fear of Crime There are two decisive articles on criminology, which reflects the fear of crime among people. The articles majorly focus on the fear of crime among women. One of the articles in the current study includes Neighbourhood Conditions and Fear of Crime: A Reconsideration of Sex Differences. The author of this article is Karen A. Snedker and the article was published by SAGE publications in the year 2015 (Snedker, 2015). The article reflects that men and women in societies have difference in expressing fear against crime. The article reflects that women in societies have considerably higher perceptions in risks related to several crimes as compared to men. This is largely because of their higher efficiency and effectiveness level in perceiving different signals related to risks and crimes (Snedker, 2015). The other article in the current study is Women and the Fear of Crime: Challenging the Accepted Stereotype. There are several authors in this article, which include Elizabeth Gilchrist, Jon Bannister, Jason Ditton, and Stephen Farrall. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that Brit. J. Criminol published the article in the year 1998. The article reflects a contradictory outcome related to the amount of perceived fear of crime by men and women. The article suggests that men are comparatively fearful than women. On the other hand, women are comparatively fearless to several risks from crimes than men (Gilchrist, Bannister, Ditton & Farrall, 1998). Introduction The two articles selected in the current study involve certain aims and purposes. In this regard, the article by Snedker (2015) aims to determine and evaluate the amount of fear among men and women perceived in a society. Similarly, the aim of the other article by Gilchrist & et al. (1998) also implies of the determination of the amount of fear among men and women in societies. Moreover, for conducting the research study effectively in the article by Snedker (2015), the author has adopted a qualitative analysis through primary data. In the article of Gilchrist & et al. (1998), the researchers have conducted both qualitative and quantitative study. However, the researchers conducted the study based on the stated aim through primary data (Gilchrist & et al., 1998). Each of the two articles in the current study has significant importance. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the two articles provide comprehensive understandings regarding the amount of fear possessed by each of the two genders in the society. This would lead to the abolishing of fear among the people regarding crimes and other offensive activities. The study would certainly attempt to boost confidence among the people in order to fight against crimes (Snedker, 2015; Gilchrist & et al., 1998). Moreover, the research of the two articles attempts to identify the gender, which is most vulnerable to crime and other offensive activities in the society. This would provide a scope to protect that vulnerable gender in the society through special measures (Snedker, 2015; Gilchrist & et al., 1998). Furthermore, the two articles are of significant importance considering it would suggest the gender, which have higher sensitivity to risk from different crimes. It provides a scope for undertaking precautionary measures. Thus, it is eminent that the two articles are of extreme importance (Snedker, 2015; Gilchrist & et al., 1998). Research Approach The two articles in the current study have followed certain research approaches. These research approaches have been considerably been effective in successful completion of the research and deriving effective research outcome. In this regard, it is notable that the article by Snedker (2015) has been based on a mixed research approach, wherein both quantitative and qualitative research approach were applied. A qualitative research approach has been used in the current study in order to logically interpret the data collected in the research article. On the other hand, a quantitative approach in the research article involves multinomial logistic regressions (Snedker, 2015). Multinomial logistic regression is a statistical method, wherein nominal outcome variables are determined. This approach has a significant strength, which considerably increases the reliability of the findings of the study. This is its capability in minimising the possibility of errors, which is largely because of the centralised interviewing (Snedker, 2015). However, this approach also has some of the significant weaknesses. These include small sample sizing, recall issues, and the issue related to validity of comparison group (Hosmer, Lemeshow, & Sturdivant, 2013). The article by Gilchrist & et al. (1998) has been also based on a mixed research approach; wherein both qualitative and quantitative approach has been applied. In this regard, a qualitative approach through conducting interview among 64 people comprising equal number of men and women has been performed (Gilchrist & et al., 1998). On the other hand, a quantitative research approach has been conducted through data collected from interview process. The mixed approach used in the current article has some of the decisive strengths. One of them is that it provides stronger evidences that increase the reliability of the study outcome (Gilchrist & et al., 1998). Moreover, it generalises the study outcome. However, there are some of the weaknesses of the mixed approach applied in this article, which considerably reduces the reliability of the study outcome. These include highly expensive and time-consuming nature of the approach (Gilchrist & et. al., 1998). Data Collection Methods The data for the research in the article of Snedker (2015) has been extensively collected from Bureau of Justice Statistics. The data collected are based on 12 cities of the United States comprising Chicago, Knoxville, Tucson, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Madison, San Diego, Spokane, Savannah, Springfield and Washington DC (Snedker, 2015). The reason behind the selection of this method of data collection is largely because of its significant strength. The data collected from Bureau of Justice Statistics is highly reliable. Thus, it increases the reliability of the research outcome (Snedker, 2015). However, there is also a concerning factor related to the data collected methods, which also implies of its weaknesses. This is the number of cities selected in the study, which is only limited. The selection of more number of cities could have increased further the reliability of the study outcome (Larence, 2009). In the article by Gilchrist & et al. (1998), data were collected from the primary sources through interview. The data collected through interview was both qualitative and quantitative in nature. Qualitative data were collected from equal number of men and women in Glasgow (Gilchrist & et al., 1998). Moreover, quantitative data were collected from housing areas. These include the inner city poor, outlying affluent, inner city affluent and outlying poor. The reason behind the selection of mixed method of data collection is that it would increase the reliability of the study (Gilchrist & et. al., 1998). This also has been its strength in the data collection method. The possibility of unsuccessfulness on one of the approaches has been backed by the other approach, which also implies of its strength. However, there is also a significant limitation or weakness related to the data collection method in the current research. This is the high time consuming nature (Pawar, 2004). Sampling Method The article by Snedker (2015) has certain specified sample population. It comprises 12,459 individual respondents that are randomly selected from 12 cities in the US (Snedker, 2015). Moreover, it is worth mentioning that these respondents are obtained from the statistical report from Bureau of Justice Statistics. The sampling method in the study is quantitative in nature (Snedker, 2015). The other article by Gilchrist & et al. (1998) also has a specified sampling. In this article, there is a sample size of 64 individual respondents, who have responded to qualitative interviews. In this regard, equal number of men and women respondents is considered for the study (Gilchrist & et. al., 1998). Moreover, there have been a considerable number of initial sample respondents, i.e. 168. The sample size is used for the quantitative data collection. Out of the 168 respondents, only 64 individual respondents were selected for the qualitative research study (Gilchrist & et. al., 1998). Ethics The current study involves the analysis of two of the decisive articles by Snedker (2015) and Gilchrist & et al. (1998) of criminology that has a major obligation for maintaining ethical and moral values. This is extensively decisive considering the type of articles, which is based on criminology. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the rise of any sensitive issue from the course of the research of the two articles would be of extensive concern. However, none of the articles attempts to create any of the ethical and moral issues. In the article of Snedker (2015), secondary data were collected from Bureau of Justice Statistics. Although the data collected from such source is highly reliable in nature, but there is a concern for the violation of copyright protection of the statistical data, which is highly unethical in nature (Snedker, 2015). In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the secondary data collected do not violate and infringe the copyright protection. The researchers has obtained due permission from the owner of the data (Gregory, 2003). It is recognised that the article of Gilchrist & et al. (1998) also do not attempt to violate any of the ethical or moral values. In this regard, it is notable that the primary data collected through interview do not possess any of the questions, which is highly sensitive or distasteful. Moreover, it is eminent that the research outcome of both the articles does not create any ethical or moral concerns (Gilchrist & et. al., 1998). Thus, it is asserted that both the articles in the study are highly effective in maintaining ethical and moral values (Gregory, 2003). Conclusion From the course of the study, it is eminent that the articles by Snedker (2015) and Gilchrist & et al. (1998) are based on criminological studies. These two articles aim to identify the degree of fear between the two genders in the society. These two articles also aim to determine the gender, which is more sensitive to the risk of crimes. In obtaining the aim of the research study, the researchers of both the articles conducted the study through qualitative and quantitative research approach, which is known as mixed approach. There are certain strengths in mixed approach, which are illustrated in the current study for analysing study from both social and statistical perspectives. The unsuccessful of one of the approach could be backed by the other. However, from the course of the current study, it is also eminent that mixed approach used in the two articles has a significant weakness, which is high time consuming nature of the approach. Moreover, in the article of Snedker (2015), there is evidence of the use of Multinomial logistic regressions for performing a quantitative study in an effective manner. This method has a significant strength, which results into the increase in the reliability of the study outcome. This is its capability of minimising errors, through centralised interviewing. From the course of the study, it is also eminent that the two articles have considered effective data collection procedures. In this regard, the article by Snedker (2015) considers data collection from Bureau of Justice Statistics. This is considered as highly effective as the source is extremely reliable. Moreover, the other factor that contributed to the success of the study is large sample size, i.e. 12,549 from 12 cities in the US. Moreover, the article of Gilchrist & et al. (1998) has been highly effective considering the accurate data collection from the qualitative and quantitative interviews. The sample size is also considerably satisfying, which is of 168 individuals for the quantitative study and 64 individuals for qualitative study. Besides this, it is also worth mentioning that both the articles have been highly effective in maintaining ethical and moral values. From the course of the study, it is also eminent that the research outcome of both the articles does not create any ethical and moral concerns. Furthermore, the research approach and data collection method executed in both the articles do not attempt to affect any of the ethical and moral values. References Gilchrist, E., Bannister, J., Ditton, J., & Farrall, S. (1998). Women and the fear of crime: challenging the accepted stereotype. Brit J. Criminol, 38(2), 283-296. Gregory, I. (2003). Ethics in research. London: A&C Black. Hosmer, D. W., Lemeshow, S., & Sturdivant, R. X. (2013). Applied logistic regression. USA: John Wiley & Sons. Larence, E. R. (2009). Bureau of Justice Statistics funding to states to improve criminal records. USA: DIANE Publishing. Pawar, M. S. (2004). Data collecting methods and experiences: a guide for social researchers. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Snedker, K. A. (2015). Neighborhood conditions and fear of crime: a reconsideration of sex differences. SAGE Publications, 61(1), 45-70. Read More