you will post replies of 250–300 words (supported with at least two cites) each
Place your order now for a similar assignment and have exceptional work written by our team of experts, At affordable rates
For This or a Similar Paper Click To Order Now
you will post replies of 250–300 words (supported with at least two cites) each to 3 or more classmates’ threads.Each reply must incorporate at least two (2) scholarly citation(s) in APA format.
Question: What are the strengths and weaknesses of using quantitative methods in Criminal Justice? How can academicians use data analysis to inform public decisions and educate public leaders on the application of quantitative methods.
PLEASE RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING 3 CLASSMATES WITH 250-300 words and 2 scholarly citations.
1.Tara Kristich-Quantitative research is typically focused on measuring criminological or the realities of crimes committed within the criminal justice system. However, concepts and abstract tags must first be understood to understand the quantitative processes, such as numerical values, which creates variables in reality and practical application (Criminology and Criminal Justice Research: Methods – Quantitative Research Methods, 2019). These variables are used to examine patterns of relations, covariations, and cause and effect. In addition, there are two different variables within research: the independent variable and the independent variable. The dependent variable is typically the outcome variable, and the independent variable is typically the predictor variable (Criminology and Criminal Justice Research: Methods – Quantitative Research Methods, 2019).
Quantitative research has both advantages and disadvantages within criminology research. The advantages of quantitative research include the research being objective and can be measured and enabling comparison (Gray, 2022). This is because researching crimes requires substantial evidence, which needs to be compared to obtain the most accurate information. In addition, research can compare different concepts of a given crime to develop comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a particular crime that make be affecting specific areas. Finally, quantitative research enables the researcher to collect information about a large population, generalization of crimes, or take a small sample for a specific population (Gray, 2022). This is partly due to the research possibility needed to understand human behavior within a given population or particular area (Gray, 2022).
The disadvantages of quantitative research include the extensive cost and time that is required to collect and analyze data. In addition, quantitative research requires careful planning to ensure complete randomization and correct designation of the control groups (Panter & Sterba, 2011). In many instances, the population needs to be higher to enable a comparison of previous research and data collected, which is often challenging to accomplish (Panter & Sterba, 2011). More often, this makes the research process more expensive than qualitative research. In addition, researchers conducting quantitative research often have difficulty analyzing data because it requires extensive statistical analysis, which many researchers may have yet to do. With an extensive statistical background, an individual can likely acquire the correct findings within the research conducted (Panter & Sterba, 2011). Lastly, quantitative research needs more resources for data collection. Typically, research requires a large sample size. However, many individuals and organizations need more knowledge to obtain large-scale resources, which hinders research. In addition, this could result in an improper representation of a given population, criminal activity, or area from a study (Panter & Sterba, 2011).
Academicians can use data analysis to inform public decisions and educate public leaders on the application of quantitative methods by ensuring sufficient, complete, and timely data about a given topic. However, properly utilizing a quantitative approach to inform public decisions and educate public leaders, researchers must utilize their knowledge and experience to apply the information to current issues, prevention methods, and potential outcomes while considering their research, knowledge, and experience limitations (Morgan, 2019). This is because quantitative approaches can cover a large number of different aspects, including data, data management, visualization, statistical analysis, modeling, machine learning, and geospatial analysis. With these methods, researchers can formulate decisions and rapidly assist in the decision-making process of current issues with analysis (Morgan, 2019).
For stakeholders to better understand the importance of public policy and decision-making, it is helpful to understand data science trends and how they correlate to current issues within the criminal justice system. When this is understood, policymakers can make better and more informed decisions; however, that information needs to come from researchers who are knowledgeable, trustworthy, and experts within the field. Academia can provide expansive knowledge and insight into the types of data and statistical methods that can be used to glean insights into policy studies, such as predictive analytics, clustering, extensive data methods, and the analysis of networks, text, and images (Engler, 2020). In addition, academia can provide the emergence of trends and a set of tools that will formalize the standards in the data analysis process. This includes but is not limited to open-source programming languages, data visualization, cloud computing, reproducible research, as well as data collection and storage infrastructure (Engler, 2020).
When it comes to public policy and public opinions, evaluating data is a core component of government oversight and evaluations to make decisions. Academia providing unbiased research could safeguard Americans and their decisions because it is the premises on which government operates (Engler, 2020). Conversely, biased and improperly documented research can have catastrophic outcomes on national security policy and on the lives of everyday Americans. Approximately 125 government agencies are currently utilizing statistical-based programs to assist in the decision-making process, and it continues to evolve and expand (Engler, 2020).
References
Criminology and Criminal Justice Research: Methods – Quantitative Research Methods. (2019). Jrank.org. https://law.jrank.org/pages/923/Criminology-Crimin…
Engler, A. (2020, April 20). What all policy analysts need to know about data science. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/research/what-all-policy…
Gray, D. E. (2022). Doing Research in the Real World (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Morgan, O. (2019). How decision makers can use quantitative approaches to guide outbreak responses. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 374(1776), 20180365. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2018.0365
Panter, A. T., & Sterba, S. K. (2011). Handbook of Ethics in Quantitative Methodology. Routledge.
2)Jeffery Andrade- What are the strengths and weaknesses of using quantitative methods in Criminal Justice?
Quantitative, qualitative and mix methods of research are used within scientific research (Creswell, n.d.). Quantitative research studies focus on measurements, as qualitative research studies focus on historical data, subjects’ interviews (both individually and focus groups) or any other study which does not focus on a measurement. According to Creswell (n.d.), mix methods combines both quantitative and qualitative research methods to achieve many research studies. In the past several years, law enforcement agencies across the United States have been subject to intense scrutiny (Berk et al., 2021). Ongoing debates about better practices, use of force and racial profiling of minority groups have been on the news more and more. Social media platforms have distributed inaccurate information about law enforcement officers. Henkel et al. (2020) noted the difference between social media and news agencies. Online journalist will publish unverified information, while new agencies (offline) journalist will attempt to verify information prior to a news article being published (Henkel et al., 2020).
Social scientist who researches criminal justice agencies do attempt to assess the truth of any statements or hypothesis (Maxfield & Babbie, 2018). Strengths and weaknesses for using quantitative methods in criminal justice studies are related to the data which is being interpreted and the overall research design the researcher(s) have decided on. Preexisting data from other research can be a positive strength for future quantitative research studies. Peer-reviewed research studies have the positive assumption. New researchers can assume the data has already been peer-reviewed. However, going back to media and unverified news. The media does influence public opinion when it comes to criminal justice reform (Whitman, 2019). Whitman (2019) notes culture impact creates a moral panic when it comes to public opinion, which in turn leads to ill-conceived legislation throughout the United States.
Other weaknesses include criminal justice agencies not willing to provide or share information with researchers (Maxfield & Babbie, 2018). If an agency is not willing to provide information to a researcher, researchers will never be able to provide accurate studies. Some examples might include officer involved shootings, potential policy violations by the officers or past administrative punishments an officer received. However, this all depends on what measurement the researcher is attempting to evaluate for their specific research project.
How can academicians use data analysis to inform public decisions and educate public leaders on the application of quantitative methods?
One of the best ways to change public decisions and educate the public is by using evidence-based research. Yingling and Mallinson (2020) have found evidence-based research has rapidly changed policies within the American justice system. Evidence-based research can be used to look at the influences of family, peers and social media in relation to policies and practices. Further, it can also determine what racial disparities are currently affecting communities across the United States. However, researchers have to ensure their data is reliable and accurate (Pallant, 2020). Without accurate and reliable data, the study will prove to be effective when going through the peer review process.
Education has to be incorporated with all evidence-based research (Yingling & Mallinson, 2020). Once a study has been conducted and shows a specific result someone has to educate administrators and policy makers of their findings. Education is a key component of how to increase the effectiveness within the criminal justice arena. Educating the public on evidence-based research can reduce recidivism for both adult and juvenile offenders (Dempsey et al., 2021). Researchers need to be able to provide the information to the public in terms they will understand. This can be a difficult task if someone only reads data collected on spreadsheets and does not use them often.
The criminal justice system has a desire to be effective, stable and enhance their legitimacy with programs they develop (Whitman, 2019). Government agencies can open their data and have nongovernment agencies use the data provided to assist with the government’s goals and objectives. These nongovernment agencies can use evidence-based principles to design a program and evaluate the success. Many local criminal justice agencies do not have the expertise to evaluate the data or even know how to read the data. Social scientists have to be the go between and explain the results not only to the agency, but the public as well.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 4 verses 9 and 10 (Carson, 2014) the Bible reminds us two are always better than one. If someone was to fall the other might need help getting up. Today, the criminal justice system is going through changes. Some of those changes are based on impulse and not on evidence based data. Even though the criminal justice system has the desire to be effective, until they are able to study what programs, policies and practices are in place they will never know how effective it is. By using specific measurements found within quantitative research studies, previous, current and future scholars can help bring a better understanding to the public and criminal justice administrators.
References:
Berk, R., Heidari, H., Jabbari, S., Kearns, M., & Roth, A. (2021). Fairness in criminal justice risk assessments: The state of the art. Sociological Methods & Research, 50(1), 3–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124118782533
Carson, D. A. (2015). New International Version Zondervan study Bible. Zondervan.
Creswell, J. W. (n.d.). Week one presentation: Research design, data collection, & sources of data. [Powerpoint Slides]. Liberty University.
Dempsey, M. P., Davis, W. M., Forbes, P., Penkoff, C. B., Gonsoulin, S., Harris, P. W., Griller-Clark, H., & Mathur, S. (2021). Juvenile justice administrator perspectives: Reframing reentry around positive youth outcomes. Behavioral Disorders, 46(3), 187–196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0198742920965134
Henkel, I., Thurman, N., Moller, J., & Trilling, D. (2020). Do online, offline, and multiplatform journalists differ in their professional principles and practices? Findings from a multinational study. Journalism Studies (London, England), 21(10), 1363–1383. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2020.1749111
Maxfield, M. G., & Babbie, E. R. (2018). Research methods for criminal justice and criminology (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual (7th ed.). Open University Press.
Whitman, M. S. (2019). Media influence on the public opinion of criminal justice issues and policies: A quantitative descriptive study (Order No. 13813920). Available from ProQuest Central; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2208314161). http://ezproxy.apus.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fdissertations-theses%2Fmedia-influence-on-public-opinion-criminal%2Fdocview%2F2208314161%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D8289
Yingling, D. L., & Mallinson, D. J. (2020). Explaining variation in evidence-based policy making in the american states. Evidence & Policy, 16(4), 579-596. http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/174426419X15752577942927
3)Alex Williams
Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis in Criminal Justice Policy
Quantitative methods of research and data analysis in criminal justice policy are both appropriate ways to interpret the validity and applicability of data that influences criminal justice policy. An example of how quantitative data has influenced criminal justice policy was Dante Mozie’s 2020 analysis of post-Floyd rap lyrics. Quantitative data analysis in this study enabled a positive correlation to be drawn between post-Floyd rap lyrics, police brutality, and racism (Mozie, 2020). This is problematic in a post-Ferguson environment wherein police officers and their credibility are challenged by their citizens, the media, and even their own leadership. Police officers predominately feel as if their leadership is failing them because they won’t stick up for their personnel and have forgotten what it is like to perform the duties of a police officer (Hoggett et al., 2018). Quantitative data analysis is vital in the development of relevant criminal justice policy to address the damages caused by the “Ferguson Effect”. The Ferguson Effect is where the mass media systematically targets and polarizes conversations regarding law enforcement officers and operations in the United States (Copeland, et al., 2022).
Strengths and Weaknesses of using quantitative methods in Criminal Justice
One of the many strengths of using quantitative methods in the profession of criminal justice is officer accountability through published metrics. One way that this is accomplished is through the use of quantitative data analysis in identifying “wandering officers”. A “wandering officer”, is a police officer that is terminated by a police department, often under conditions of officer misconduct, and are able successful in being hired on by another jurisdiction (Grunwald & Rappaport, 2020). Quantitative data is particularly helpful in assisting law enforcement hiring authorities with identifying key characteristics, traits, and other predictable patterns that police officers with a high propensity to commit acts of misconduct possess (Grunwald & Rappaport, 2020). One of the many weaknesses of using quantitative methods in the profession of criminal justice is that there is not enough current research to pull from. Criminal justice scholars assert that more quantitative data is needed in all domains of the criminal justice field, with emphasis on police officer initial entry training (Nevers, 2019).
Data Analysis and Public Decision-Making using Quantitative Methods
Academicians use data analysis to inform public decisions and educate public leaders on the application of quantitative methods through extensive, thorough, and targeted research driven by the scientific method. Scientific inquiry is the process of integrating specific problem-solving and questioning methodologies to better understand a specific topic or discipline. There are seven elements of scientific inquiry that are multi-dimensionally integrated in nature. These elements include asking constant questions, testing and assessing information/data, correlating information, searching for concrete facts, sorting and categorizing data correctly, generating an informed outcome, and distributing outcomes through academic and professional channels. The concepts contained within the scientific inquiry as a process are congruent with the teachings of the biblical narrative because knowledge and wisdom are demonstrated through Christians who live wisely (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, James 3:13). Quantifiable data is a tangible resource that scholars can grasp ahold of and make informative deductions towards.
Application of a Christian Worldview
Quantitative data analysis is highly conducive to research processes in assuring compliance, accuracy, and transparency are being extended to policymakers as they make well-informed and ethical decisions. Police officers have the unique responsibility of squaring off against the sinful nature of man, thus they become a target for hatred from the lawful and lawless crowds, so it is important that they understand the pain that sin has caused God since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, John 15:18). Police officers often will interact with members of society during their darkest and hardest days, as well as experience the depths of a man’s evil heart. It is with this in mind that police officers must prepare themselves physically (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20), mentally (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, 2 Timothy 1:7), and emotionally (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, 1 Corinthians 10:13). Police officers are given the unique responsibility to enforce the laws of society and the government, as explained in the Book of Romans, as the sword of a society (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, Romans 13:4). Police officers serve the citizens of their communities by assuring that law and order of their respective societies are maintained.
This is important from the perspective of a Christian worldview because police officers serve in a vital capacity within their communities, serving as the conduit between the citizens, the law, and God’s expectations of his people (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, 1 Peter 2:13-17). Law enforcement officers serve in a critical role, assuring the defense of the weak (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, Psalms 82:3-4), as the world is a turbulent place that is plagued by sin. Utilizing a basis of evidence (quantitative data) as a guiding principle within a profession is representative of that organization’s belief in the value of truth, accuracy, and discernment. The ideals of truth, accuracy, and validity maintain biblical significance, as God’s people are commanded to pursue truth (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, John 8:32), accuracy (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, Proverbs 20:10), and discern what from God and what is of man (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, 1 Thessalonians 5:21).
References
Copeland, C., Del Carmen, A., & Semukhina, O. (2022). Revisiting the ferguson effect: law enforcement perception of recruitment in the post-george floyd era. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 1-12.
Grunwald, B., & Rappaport, J. (2020). The wandering officer. Yale Law Journal, 129(6), 1676–1782.
Hoggett, J., Redford, P., Toher, D., & White, P. (2018). Challenges for police leadership: identity, experience, legitimacy and direct entry. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 30, 145-155.
Mozie, D. (2022). They killin us for no reason: black lives matter, police brutality, and hip hop music—a quantitative content analysis. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 99(3), 826–847.
New Living Translation Bible. (2015). Tyndale House Publishers. (Original work published in 1996).
Nevers, K. (2019). Predictors of successful police academy recruits and rationalizations for attrition. Police Practice & Research, 20(4), 343–359.
