NCJ Number
147674
Journal
Gang Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 9-24
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the current state of research on ethnic gangs, emphasizing the nature of these studies, the principal methods employed, and the reasons for the uneven development of an ethnic-specific focus.
Abstract
The author argues that the paucity of research into ethnic gangs is related to general dilemmas of gang research, the use of common stereotypes to classify ethnic gangs, and the "withholding tendency," in which minority scholars may refrain from this type of research for fear of reinforcing existing racial generalizations. This article describes the author's research project on San Francisco's Asian, black, Hispanic, and white gangs. Five interrelated methodological issues have been especially relevant to this effort. They include definition of gangs, identification and access to members, general methodology issues in studying these groups, ethnic-specific methodology concerns, and the interview process with individual members and validation of their responses. 7 notes and 50 references