Gathering Research in Criminal Justice

Law enforcement officers and officials have a very strenuous job and even life style. Many things go into being a police officer and even more behind it. Research plays a crucial role in criminal justice in statistics, measuring crime rates, and on the job hazards or satisfaction. There are indeed many areas to look into but I believe that an officers job hazards would be the main focus in my research. The goal of researching law enforcement hazards would be to identify the risks of the job and in doing this, weighing those options with possible options to reduce risk or to just be aware of it and be mindful of what these risks can pertain. For example before you take a trip to the beach, researching the weather and knowing of any possible conditions that can occur before you travel would give you a better idea of the trip and if it's worth going or needing to be postponed. There are different types of interviews and the interview structure involved needs to be catered to the audience selected and the type of information needing to be gathered. Interviews from an actual police officer are an ideal method of gathering information needed concerning police job hazards. An officer would be able to give his or her first hand experience and knowledge. Interviews can be informal with the purpose being learning about the industry, company, people, skills required, cultural fit, and perhaps generating additional avenues of research or more people for you to contact. Screening can be the next step. This is the first serious step in the interviewing process. Used as the first step to narrow the field of candidates who are being considered to give the best information? For example you can talk to a police officer, but one that has had 10 years would be a more ideal interviewee then an officer that has had only 3 years experience. (Myers, 2014) In learning about job hazards, it is important to research the subject before an interview so that you can get good ideas on questions you want answers to. Interviews are like a two way story telling. "You need to provide the interviewer with accurate, relevant stories about your career achievements and job performance. The interviewer needs to tell you the story of the company, describe the position in question, and explain specifically how they want you to fit into their picture. This will allow both parties to assess their level of interest in the other." (Myers, 2014, pg.1) Some questions to ask would include: What are the physical hazards of the job in your opinion? Mental hazards? In your experience of X amount of years, how often have you fired your handgun? How often have you fired your tazer? What is the rate of being attacked by an offender? Does the job affect personal life? What are the biological risks such as contracting HIV from someone? How often does being accidently attacked by peers occur (friendly fire)? (International Hazards, 2000) "Qualitative research methods for gathering data in a criminal justice environment include observing behaviors of small groups of people, focus groups, interviews and individual case studies. Qualitative research focuses on human life experiences in a social context." (Perry, 2014) Qualitative research methods can provide the criminal justice researcher with a better understanding of how and why crime occurs in a specific social context. With this there are also participant and direct observation methods. Participant observation research methods are a sort of interactive research. In this the researcher can participate and go along with activity but does not influence the behavior of others. Researchers from direct observation methods gather data by observing and not participating in any activity. This can be done directly or by video. This tends to be more of a reliable method because the researcher does not get involved with the subjects on a personal level. (Perry, 2014) Research conducted from surveys is extremely important and quite accurate. A duty of confidentiality "may be established in two situations: when confidential information is passed, in confidence, to the confidant (the receiver of the information); and when it has been supplied in circumstances in which the confidant might reasonably suppose it to be confidential." (Corti..., 2000) Surveys can be given in mass with specific questions and opinions. Confidentiality is important with surveys because it protects a participant's information and also people in general tend to give more honest answers and insight into what they really think about a subject. Their opinion can be given without a name connecting the answers to the individual. This is needed because a researcher wants to gain the most accurate opinion. When people don't give their name in connection with a survey, they tend to be bolder with their answers because there is no fear of reprimand against them if they should give a negative response. "Research should, as much as possible, be based on participants' freely volunteered informed consent. This implies a responsibility to explain fully and meaningfully what the research is about and how it will be disseminated. Participants should be aware of their right to refuse to participate; understand the extent to which confidentiality will be maintained; be aware of the potential uses to which the data might be put; and in some cases be reminded of their right to re-negotiate consent." (Corti..., 2000) Through different research methods and interviews a researcher can obtain the desired information about law enforcement job hazards. Qualitative research methods are more ideal versus quantitative in respect that it involves a more social context. As mentioned there are different ways to conduct an interview, observe activity, and to gather information from a survey. Having an idea on what to ask is equally important because a researcher also needs to ask the right questions to get the answers he/she needs.

References:
Corti, Louise; Day, Annette & Backhouse, Gill (2000). Confidentiality and Informed Consent: Issues for Consideration in the Preservation of and Provision of Access to Qualitative Data Archives [46 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 1(3), Art. 7, http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs000372.
Perry, H. Qualitative Research Methods in Criminal Justice. (2014) Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/info_8292803_qualitative-research-methods-criminal-justice.html
International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation. Police/ Law Enforcement Officer. (2000) Retrieved from: http://www.leoaffairs.com/media/health/International%20Labour%20Organization%20- %20Occupational%20Hazard%20Datasheets%20-%20Police%20- %20Law%20Enforcement%20Officer%20-%20051900.htm
Myers, F. Interviews: Types and Structures. (2014) Career Potential pg. 1. Retrieved from: http://careerpotential.com/career-advice/interviews-types-and-structures/