216 Words
C –
When researching youths ‘hanging around’ it may be difficult to get a realistic image of what is going on; “The possibility that the ‘adult watchers’ might talk to their parents…try to curb the more extreme behaviour…”
So that the research found can be reliable and show the youths in their natural environment one of the research methods used was participant observation. This method meant that the group were aware of the research in an overt observation, but once trust was gained the group acted normally. This worked well as natural behaviour meant that the results were reliable and meant the researcher could observe the interaction between people who might not normally agree to an interview. The research was qualitative and anti-positivist, due to measuring the experiences in words. Qualitative results are generally detailed therefore ensure more complex, detailed results.
Moore also used another research method, interviewing youths and workers from youth clubs. This would be difficult to research as the workers may have an alternative motive; “…because they hoped that a positive report…would help them stave off some proposed budget cuts…” The unstructured interviews meant that detail could be found and results would be valid; measuring people’s opinions and attitudes in an informal setting. Although these results may be difficult to compare Moore could still use them to make generalisations. This research was also measured in an anti-positivist, qualitative way.
Due to the differing methods that were used, the results appeared very different. The researcher could learn about behaviour in natural environments via participant observation and also obtain detail in interviews. Although both methods had completely different results they both used qualitative, anti-positivist research methods that may have given more ‘natural’ results.
282 Words
D –
Moore researched youths to demonstrate that doing a piece of research is more complex than the ideal. He found that many of the youths care about their public appearance and although they do not feel threatened by the police they have a sense of ‘self-policing’ (Appendix A). Although the youths limited their behaviour for the good of the householders (Appendix B) the householders felt intimidated by them. If the householders acted in a way considered by the youths to be unreasonable this led to the youth’s unreasonable behaviour (Appendix C). Moore experienced the media’s interpretation on the results, showing how researchers and journalists may distort results in order to clarify what has been learnt from the findings. Rarely researchers admit they’ve made mistakes or not followed ‘textbook procedures’ but will alter results so they’re understood. (Appendix D).
The qualitative methods Moore used – unstructured interviews and participant observation meant that a variety of results were given to gain a clearer image. There are problems with each of these methods that may mean the results are less valid and realistic. The researchers acted ethically as they openly admitted to doing research but this may influence how people acted. Generally with participant observation the youths accepted the researcher and acted normally which increased validity, but people may have acted differently as part of the group or towards the researcher. With unstructured interviews there was interviewer bias and people who wanted to promote self-interests. With this influencing the interviews the results may not be completely true, but the participant observation seemed to accurately find how youths act when involved in these groups.
Moore collected evidence from 3 villages, which is not representative of the whole country but is relevant to the aim of testing youths within rural areas. The results don’t demonstrate how areas within the country differ; it’s hard to generalise with results from similar areas because youths in other areas may act differently. People may act differently according to social classes, north-south divides and how multi-cultural an area is. Although the group studied probably included different races the results can’t be applied to all cultures or religions. Moore intended to research youths in rural areas; therefore results of other people would be irrelevant. Results from the 3 villages were similar and if research was repeated it would find similar results, proving the data gathered is reliable.
It’s impossible to generalise from the research as it only applies to particular areas, therefore the results have little basis to form a conclusion. Moore aimed to illustrate the differences between the ideal and reality of creating research; he did this through studying deviance. His theory of results being distorted in order to conform is proved by the media’s interpretation of the findings. Moore met the aims by proving that researchers often recast their research so it’s accepted by journals.
500 words
Needs to be 350-400
Appendix
A – “The possibility that ‘adult watchers’ may talk to their parents or make other public complaints against them seemed enough to make the majority of those hanging around try to curb the more extreme behaviour…” (p.10)
B – “Their concept of reasonable behaviour was based, first, on their own ideas and, second, on their perception of what the householders would think.” (p.11)
C – “…demands for control by householders made the young feel that they were being picked on, and this led to retaliation and harassment of individual householders.” (p.11)
D – “…researchers are tempted to ‘recast’ their research in order to conform, thus keeping alive the myth of scientific research.” (p.11)
