NCJ Number
51303
Date Published
1978
Length
269 pages
Annotation
FOLLOWING AN INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW OF THE NATURE OF FIELD OBSERVATION METHODS FOR DATA COLLECTION, THEIR USE IN THE STUDY OF CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS OUTLINED.
Abstract
FIELD METHODS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES, ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN, TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGN, AND FIELD RELATIONS. THEN, IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS, THE APPLICATION OF SUCH FIELD METHODS TO THE STUDY OF CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS REVIEWED, THE FORMER WITH RESPECT TO OBSERVING CRIMES AND CRIMINALS, VICE AND DEVIANTS, DELINQUENTS AND DELINQUENCY, AND THE VICTIM COMMUNITY AND THE LATTER WITH REGARD TO OBSERVING THE POLICE, LAWYERS FOR THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE, THE COURTS, AND THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM. ACTUAL RESEARCH STUDIES ARE CITED TO ILLUSTRATE THE USE OF CERTAIN FIELD OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES. HOWEVER, NOT ALL THE STUDIES CITED REPRESENT APPLICATIONS OF THE DESIGNATED FIELD METHODS; SOME NONFIELD STUDIES ARE CITED FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE IMPORT OF THEIR FINDINGS FOR RESEARCH QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT BE APPROACHED THROUGH FIELD METHODS. EACH CHAPTER ALSO CONTAINS DISCUSSIONS OF THE PARTICULAR SUBJECT UNDER REVIEW (I.E., THE SELECTED ELEMENTS OF THE AREAS OF CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM). APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE AN OBSERVATIONAL SCHEDULE FOR STUDY OF RADIO-DISPATCHED POLICE-CITIZEN TRANSACTIONS AND AN OBSERVATIONAL CODE FOR POLICE-CITIZEN INTERACTIONS. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX OF METHODOLOGICAL TOPICS ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)