Stop and frisk - Research Proposal Example

Stop and frisk Introduction Gun violence is one of the significant crimes in New York Even though policies, such as stop and frisk exist, suchpolicies have been implemented against other crimes without positive results (Ream, Johnson, Dunlap, and Benoit, 699- 704). The proposed study seeks to investigate effectiveness of stop and frisk policy on gun violence in the city through the following research question and this paper conceptualizes the proposed research. Does the NYPD stop and frisk policy decrease gun violence?

Research questionThe research question is about a causal relationship and the definition of a causal relationship justifies this. A causal relationship exist between two variables when a cause exist and some consequences follow the cause and policy enforcement is the cause with change in gun violence rate as the effect. Existence of a correlation relationship that other factors cannot explain is another requirement for a causal relations and research control can ensure this (Aparasu 72). Implementation of the policy is the independent variable while incidence of gun violence is the dependent variable.

Concepts for measureImplementation of the stop and frisk policy and effects of the implementation are the concepts for measure. Implementation defines effective enforcement of the policy within the perception of citizens while effects of implementation define associated change in gun violence behavior among the public because of the policy implementation. In addition to peer group questionnaire that background study identified, I plan to use existing data on the subject and opinions among psychology and criminology experts in collecting data on the concepts.

Target populationIndividuals who have been accused of gun violence and those who have close relation to the already accused individuals ate the study’s target population. One of the major characteristics of the population is arrest or issuance of arrest warrant against an individual. These characteristics forms the characteristics of the remaining population segments, associated of the accused. Criminal records from attorney’s office will help in identification of individuals who have been arrested or against whom arrest warrants have been issued for gun violence crimes.

Background study on the identified individuals will facilitate identification of their associates. Design for data collectionA survey design will be used will be used for data collection because of its potential to collect data of human traits (Aparasu 161). Cross sectional approach will be implemented to collect data relating to periods before the policy and after the policy. This will also incorporate data on application and non-application of the policy after the policy’s enactment. I decided on the policy because of its advantages as a quantitative approach to the study and its limited legal and ethical implications.

As a quantitative approach, the design type allows for causal investigation while lack of treatment and randomization limits legal and ethical requirement in research that involve human participants. Convenience sampling a non-probability approach, will be used for the study because of its high chances of success in recruiting research participants. This is because the target population is a marginalized population that may be difficult to access. Seventy-four participants will be used in the study.

Implementation of the design will involve recruiting research participants and seeking their informed consent. Sampling will then follow based on the exclusion criteria of previous involvement in a research on effects of a policy on a crime rate. Online survey questionnaires will then be administered to participants. Works citedReam, Geoffrey, Johnson, Bruce, Dunlap, Eloise, and Benoit, Ellen. The role of marijuana use etiquette in avoiding targeted police enforcement. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy (2010) 17.

6, 689-706. Aparasu, Rajender. Research methods for pharmaceutical practice and policy. Gurnee, IL: Pharmaceutical Press, 2011. Print.