Research Project: Criminology in Sociology

Research Project: Criminology in Sociology: How is deviant behaviors used to profile criminals? Using the topic: Criminology in Sociology: How is deviant behaviors used to profile criminals?
What methods would you use to collect your data? Be sure to refer back to the research methods and find a suitable method for your question.
What theoretical perspective will you use to look at the question?
What is your hypothesis?
What sources would you use to find the existing research on your question? Select appropriate Journal Articles/Researchers/Agencies that would be able to provide source info.
What type of experiment will you perform to find the answers?
Write a 1-page research proposal addressing these questions. 12-point font typed and double spaced. Turn in your document via by the date on the syllabus/drop box. Your name and assignment data should appear like it does at the top of this page.
This assignment is worth 25 points based on the rubric below.
Grammar

(5.0 points)

Coherence

Organized

Complete Expression of thought

Content

(10.0 points)

Appropriate topic

Thorough Coverage

Reliable Sources

Academic Rigor

(10.0 points)

Complexity of Research

Methodology

Theoretical Perspective

What methods would you use to collect your data?
For this research question, a mixed methods approach would be most appropriate. Quantitative data on rates and types of deviant behaviors could be collected through analysis of police records and court documents (“Official Records”). Qualitative data exploring how and why certain behaviors are deemed deviant could come from interviews with offenders, law enforcement officials, and sociologists (“Unstructured Interviews”). Combining these methods would provide a well-rounded perspective on the topic.
What theoretical perspective will you use to look at the question?
Labeling theory, as developed by sociologists such as Howard Becker, would serve as an apt theoretical framework. This perspective holds that deviance is not inherent to an act, but rather is defined through social interaction and the application of rules by legal authorities. Looking through this lens could shed light on how certain behaviors become criminalized and profiled over time.
What is your hypothesis?
My hypothesis would be that law enforcement officials profile potential criminals based on behaviors deemed deviant by societal norms and legal statutes, even if the individual has not committed a crime. These behaviors then become markers used to identify and monitor suspected offenders.
What sources would you use to find the existing research on your question?
Some key sources that could provide background on this topic include:
Journals like The British Journal of Criminology, Crime & Delinquency, and Deviant Behavior. These publish frequent studies on deviance theory, criminal profiling, and related issues.
Government reports from agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice and research arms of police departments. These often include statistical analyses of criminal patterns.
Academic databases like JSTOR, EBSCO, and ProQuest Criminal Justice to locate relevant peer-reviewed articles. Search terms could include “criminal profiling,” “deviant behavior,” and “labeling theory.”
Books on criminological theory from established authors like Robert Agnew and Travis Hirschi for theoretical context.
What type of experiment will you perform to find the answers?
To test my hypothesis, I would conduct a content analysis experiment comparing the language used in official police reports of criminal suspects versus non-suspects. Reports describing identical rule-breaking behaviors (e.g. drug use) would be analyzed to identify any differential emphasis placed on more broadly defined “deviant” lifestyle factors or personality traits for suspects. Quantitative analysis of word frequencies could reveal implicit profiling behaviors in documentation. Subject to IRB approval, interviews with law enforcement may also provide qualitative insights.