Crim 1208- Agency Records, Content Analysis, & Secondary Data (Notes) PDF

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Crim 1208- Agency Records, Content Analysis, & Secondary Data (Notes)...

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Crim 1208: Agency Records, Content Analysis, & Secondary Data (Notes)

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All data discussed today does not require direct data collection by researchers who “own” the study (e.g., do analyses and write it up); data collection/creation done by others § 1) Agency records – collect vast amount of crime and CJ data (3 subtypes) § A. Published statistics § B. Non-public agency records § C. New data collected by agency staff § 2) Content analysis – examines social artifacts (any recorded documents) § 3) Secondary analysis – analyzing research data collected by other researchers

1. Agency Records: a) Published statistics -

Government organizations routinely collect, publish compilations of data on crime § May be for research but often just information about crime § e.g., Stats Canada, BC Court Records § Often available online or in libraries - Non-government organizations publish data as well e.g., Global Terrorism Database B) Non-public agency records -

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Agencies also produce crim. data not routinely released; usually, for internal use (may also be legally required) § e.g., Police departments, courthouses, corrections, forensic hospitals § Not necessarily non-public but not always accessible online Example from textbook: Cathy Spatz Widom (1989) - Child Abuse, Delinquency & Adult Arrests Another example: study on trauma experienced by police and willingness to use force

c) New data collected -

Collected for specific research purposes § "Hybrid" source: Combines collection of new data by agency staff with day-today agency activities § Example from textbook: collecting data on tourists to Florida who were victims of crime

2. Content Analysis -

= study of recorded communications (web content, videos, photos, etc.) Units of analysis = social artifacts § Not created for research but can be analyzed

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Systematic study of recorded communication (any form) § Step 1: Pick variables/parameters § Step 2: Conceptualize/operationalize § Step 3: Population > sampling frame > sample § Step 4: Examine collected data

Must-do’s: § § § §

Identify intended content and how to measure it § Manifest content: Visible, surface content vs. § Latent content: Underlying meaning Consider operationalization, mutual exclusivity, and exhaustiveness Pretest coding and check on validity after Assess reliability – interrater and test-retest

3. Secondary Analysis -

Data collected by other researchers often used to address new research questions Sources: websites, libraries

¡ Advantages? § cheaper, faster, benefit from work of skilled researchers ¡ Disadvantages? § may not answer own research question; cannot use for program evaluation studies, validity, may not be granted access...