Identify a deviant group in your community that you would like to study. Discuss whether you would use participant observation or case study methods and some of specific procedures that you would follow in conducting the study. If there is a specific justification for the method you chose, you can also incorporate that justification into your discussion.

ANSWER THE ABOVE DISCUSSION AND THEN REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE’S RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTION AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 150 WORDS or MORE)

                                                       CLASSMATE’S POST

Gangs. Like most communities’ gangs are one of the most deviant groups around. After establishing myself to them as a researcher and reassuring them that the information gained will be used for the sole purpose of my research. After they allow me access, I can get the real effect of the gang’s life doing participant observation. While doing this you would have to be careful not to lose yourself in that life. During this study you will have to do things that you would not normally do so, you will have to maintain some moral ethics and try not to break the law. After gaining access inside the gang I would use field notes when possible recording devices to record their every move, and steady contact with someone who knows that I am conducting this research (police, friend, or professor). If you want to get up close and experience the activities that gangs are involved in this is the only way. This way you have first-hand visual and documentation into a gang’s lifestyle. 

Reference

Hagan, F.E. (2009). Research methods in criminal justice and criminology (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Prentice-Hall.