SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews

Step-By-Step Guide on SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews

Introduction to SSGS 500 Week Six Assignment

The SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews focuses on developing critical analysis skills by examining selected academic articles’ research designs and methods. Analysing qualitative and quantitative studies, you will learn to identify key research components and assess their effectiveness. This Owlisdom How-To Guide will enhance your ability to draw and apply insights from the literature to your research projects.

We must choose one article from the qualitative list and one from the quantitative list in the provided course materials. 

State the primary goal(s) of the study.

State the Main Goal(s) of the Study.

To start the SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews for Research Designs and Methods, we will first state the main goals of our chosen case studies. I am providing a sample solution for one of the articles here. 

• Identify the primary objectives the authors aimed to achieve.
• Articulate the research questions or hypotheses the study addresses.
• Explain the significance of the study’s goals in the field context.

Reference

Galanek, J. D., Duda, J., Flannery, D. J., Kretschmar, J., & Butcher, F. (2016). Fugitive Safe Surrender: A Qualitative Analysis of Participants’ Reasons for Surrender and Anticipated Outcomes to Inform Program Evaluation. Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice & Criminology. https://doi.org/10.21428/88de04a1.f13ca015

Main Goal(s) of the Study

The primary goal of the study “ Fugitive Safe Surrender: A Qualitative Analysis of Participants’ Reasons for Surrender and Anticipated Outcomes to Inform Program Evaluation” was to explore and understand police officers’ attitudes and perceptions when interacting with individuals experiencing mental illness (Galanek et al., 2016). The authors aimed to identify the challenges and strategies employed by officers during these interactions and examine how these perceptions impacted their professional conduct and decision-making processes.

The study addressed several research questions: How do police officers perceive individuals with mental illness? What are the common challenges faced by officers during interactions with mentally ill individuals? What strategies do officers use to manage these interactions effectively?

The study’s goals are significant as they provide insights into the complexities of policing mental illness. This understanding is crucial for developing training programs, policies, and interventions that enhance officers’ ability to manage such interactions humanely and effectively, thereby potentially reducing incidents of violence and improving outcomes for mentally ill individuals.

Summarise the research design and discuss the research method(s) used to answer the research question or assess the hypothesis.

Summarise the Research Design and Methods

Next, in SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews. We will summarise the research design and methods used in the selected case studies.

• Describe the overall framework of the study, such as experimental, correlational, or case study.
• Highlight the structure and approach used to conduct the research.
• Outline the specific techniques and procedures employed to collect and analyse data.
• Discuss whether the study used surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, or secondary data analysis.

Research Design and Methods

The study utilised an ethnographic research design, which is well-suited for exploring the nuanced and contextual experiences of police officers in their natural environment. Ethnography involves detailed observation and interaction with participants to understand their behaviours, attitudes, and social interactions deeply (Galanek et al., 2016).

The researchers conducted participant observations and in-depth interviews with police officers. This immersive approach allowed the researchers to observe officers in action and gather rich qualitative data on their attitudes and perceptions.

To collect data, the researchers accompanied officers during their shifts, observing their interactions with mentally ill individuals. They conducted semi-structured interviews with the officers to investigate their personal experiences, attitudes, and perceptions. The data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns in the officers’ attitudes and strategies.

Summarise the results of the study.

Summarise the Results of the Study

For this section of the SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews, we will summarise the results we discovered from the selected articles.

• Provide a concise overview of the key findings.
• Include any significant data points, statistical results, or themes identified by the researchers.
• Discuss how these results answer the research questions or support/refute the hypotheses.

Results of the Study

The study revealed several key findings. Officers often viewed mentally ill individuals with a mix of empathy and frustration, acknowledging the complexities of their condition while feeling ill-equipped to manage them effectively. Common challenges included a lack of mental health training, limited resources, and the unpredictability of interactions with mentally ill individuals (Galanek et al., 2016). Officers employed various strategies to manage these interactions, such as de-escalation techniques and relying on mental health professionals.

Significant themes identified in the study included the necessity for better mental health training, the importance of inter-agency collaboration between police and mental health services, and the impact of officers’ attitudes on their decision-making and professional conduct. The findings supported the hypothesis that police officers face significant challenges when dealing with mentally ill individuals and that their perceptions can profoundly influence their interactions and outcomes.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the study’s research design.

Discuss the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Study’s Research Design

Next, in SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the case studies.

• Analyse the strengths of the research design, such as validity, reliability, and appropriateness for the research question.
• Identify limitations or weaknesses, such as sample size, potential biases, or generalizability issues.
• Provide a balanced evaluation to understand the robustness of the study’s design.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Research Design

The ethnographic approach provided a rich, contextualised understanding of officers’ attitudes and behaviours, enhancing the validity of the findings. Participant observation and in-depth interviews allowed for a comprehensive exploration of the officers’ experiences, providing in-depth insights that other methods might not capture (Galanek et al., 2016).

However, the study’s findings may not be generalisable due to the small, localised sample of officers. Additionally, the presence of researchers might have influenced officers’ behaviour (Hawthorne effect), potentially introducing bias. These factors highlight limitations in sample size and potential biases that can affect the generalizability and robustness of the study’s design.

Provide a discussion on how the study can be moved forward. For example, how can the methods be used in your research proposal? In what other research might these methods apply? Include two well-phrased research questions that could be used in follow-up studies to the one reviewed.

Discussion on Moving the Study Forward

We will discuss moving the study forward for the last segment of the SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews.

• Reflect on how the methods and design can be adapted for your research proposals.
• Consider the practicality and relevance of these methods in addressing your research questions.
• Propose two research questions for future studies that build on the reviewed study’s findings.
• Ensure the questions are well-phrased and logically extend the current research.

Moving the Study Forward

The methods used in this study, such as participant observation and in-depth interviews, can be adapted for researching other complex, context-specific interactions within law enforcement or other fields requiring deep qualitative insights. These methods are particularly relevant for studies aiming to understand the experiences and perceptions of frontline professionals in high-stress environments, such as healthcare workers, social workers, and emergency responders (Galanek et al., 2016).

Reflecting on the study’s methods and design, future research could explore how police officers’ perceptions of mentally ill individuals change after specialised mental health training. Another potential research question could investigate the long-term impacts of inter-agency collaboration on the outcomes of police interactions with mentally ill individuals. These questions extend the current research logically and offer practical avenues for further study.

Closing

In the SSGS 500 Week 6-2 Assignment: Qualitative and Quantitative Article Reviews, you have critically analysed selected articles’ research designs and methods, gaining insights into their strengths and limitations. By understanding these aspects, you can enhance your ability to design robust research studies and contribute valuable knowledge to your field. This exercise sharpens your analytical skills and prepares you for future research endeavours. For the upcoming module, we will discuss Mixed Methods Research. In the next module of  SSGS 500, we will explore the Week 7 Discussion on Mixed-Methods Research.

References

Galanek, J. D., Duda, J., Flannery, D. J., Kretschmar, J., & Butcher, F. (2016). Fugitive Safe Surrender: A Qualitative Analysis of Participants’ Reasons for Surrender and Anticipated Outcomes to Inform Program Evaluation. Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice & Criminology. https://doi.org/10.21428/88de04a1.f13ca015

Parker, K. F., Stansfield, R., & McCall, P. L. (2016). Temporal changes in racial violence, 1980 to 2006: A latent trajectory approach. Journal of Criminal Justice, 47, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2016.06.001