Introduction
The existence of gangs in this world is since ages. It’s been the tendency of a human being to be in bands for mutual support and safety and also to govern others. The street gangs in the U.S. came into existence after the Italians migrated. These gangs looted and killed people for fulfilling their needs. Later, the youth started following such activities. This research presents the public opinion on gang activities.
Literature Review
It is commonly believed by researchers that a gang is a group of adolescents and youths who generally belong to the age group of14-24 and are involved in law violating and reckless behaviour (Esbensen, et al, 2001 as cited in Brown et al, 2011). Public perception of youth gangs and their activities is based on law enforcement data and accordingly, the hyped description of this data is in the print media. Researches on adolescent samples infer that gang and non-gang youth do exhibit different characteristics; however, gang youth possess similar qualities as the other youths in their community do. In communities having abundant absorption of racial or ethnic minorities, it is commonly perceived that the members of the gang would be belonging to the minority. Likewise, in communities where there is a majority of white people, the gang members would be white. Further, in a society where the male and the female juvenile population is almost equal, girls represent a very less percentage of gang youth. Their gang activities are similar to those of the male gang members (Esbensen & Tusinski, 2007).
Gang activities are commonly perceived as criminal or violent activities that are against the norms of the community and law. According to Thornberry and Burch (1997), 86 per cent of the serious crimes were committed by the gang members in their Rochester Youth Development Study. Different gangs are involved in different activities such as drug trafficking, violent activities etc. (as cited in Esbensen & Tusinski, 2007). Howell (1998) asserts that gang violence varies depending on their locality, community and gangs. Sometimes there are differences with respect to violence among cliques within the same gang. It is widely perceived that “most gangs and gang members engage in violent crime at a rate higher than non-gang youths in the same environment” (as cited in Esbensen & Tusinski, 2007, p 25).
Esbensen et al (2001) infer that
“The largest observed differences in attitudes and behaviours are those found in comparing youths who reported never having been gang members and those who reported prior gang involvement…..The gang members reported substantially more anti-social attitudes and behaviours than the non-gang youths” (p.123).
Youth gangs have widespread existence in the U.S. and are perceived as an enigma by society. There are variations between different gangs, their activities and social problems caused by them; however, the media finds it much more convenient to portray all gangs with similar characteristics. Law enforcement and media require perceiving and describing gang crime accurately. Youth gangs are undoubtedly accountable for a substantial amount of crime; however, the public should not demonize or exaggerate their violent activities (Esbensen & Tusinski, 2007).
The relationship between the gang and community is a major factor in determining the variation in youth gang violence. Miller (1958) feels that gangs are more than a group of individuals related to one another. They function as transporters of community traditions and culture. Moreover, the identification of a youth with a gang determines his or her recognition in public (as cited in Howell, 1998, 2007). Esbensen and Huizinga (1993) found that negative labelling increases the chances of committing offences in the gang members (as cited in Howell, 1998, 2007).
It is difficult to evaluate the gravity of gang activities in the areas with less population. The major source of building gang images in the society are the media and the gangs themselves, however, gang activities are often misrepresented by them. According to Felson (2006), gangs tend to create “Big Gang Theory” in the name of protection of youths on the streets within their communities. Sometimes these gangs try to appear more dangerous than they actually are in order to cover their incompetency in providing satisfactory protection (as cited in Howell, 1998, 2007).
There is a general view that young people are under great pressure to join gangs. They might be victimized in case of resistance. However, researches by Huff (1998) and Decker and Kempf-Leonard (1991) concluded based on the responses of the respondent gang members that it was not difficult to avoid joining gangs (as cited in Brown et al, 2011).
It is a prevalent perception in the public that gangs are mainly a dangerous part of the crime problem. According to James Short and Lorine Hughes, this attitude has affected the studies on gangs, generating certain public myths about the criminal behaviour of the gangs. Some of these myths are that gang members are toughened criminals and they are engaged in making plans and committing criminal activities most of the times. It is also believed that gangs arrange criminal activity and give direction to the members for committing these activities leading to preponderance of fierce crime (Greene & Pranis, 2007).
Cheryl Maxson and Malcolm Klein (2001) found in their study of police data in South Central los Angeles that fifty per cent of the homicides committed by the members of the gang were not associated with gang activity (as cited in Greene & Pranis, 2007).
“The list of gang activities creates the impression that every Charlotte gang member is a sociopath with a long criminal record, or, at aminimum, that every gang contains murderers, drug traffickers, car jackers, armed robbers, their ilk. A quick review of the national gang data dispels any such idea” (Greene & Pranis, 2007, p.61).
Public perception of the gang activities is based upon the information gathered from the law enforcement and media reports. Greene & Pranis claim that:
“Gang members play a relatively low role in the crime problem despite their propensity toward criminal activity. Gang members appear to be fewer than one in four drug sales; fewer than one in ten homicides; Fewer than one in 16 violent offences; and fewer than one in ten index crimes” (Greene & Pranis, 2007, p. 61).
Crimes do not take place in isolation. The social influences play a significant role in manipulating people’s decisions to commit crimes. Moreover, the way certain crimes are perceived in a society has a major influence on individuals’ involvement in those crimes. For example, in a society where criminal activities are widespread, individuals are more likely to involve in criminal activities as they feel that there is less possibility of being caught. In a community with extensive criminal activities, individuals barely care about the stigma attached to crime and moral antipathies to criminality. People’s perception about ethics, beliefs and behaviour influences the conduct of individuals living in that society. What are the punishable acts in a society and how the society does punish the wrongdoers reflects its perception about the criminal activities (Kahan, 1997).
Hypothesis
- Gang activities are commonly perceived as criminal or violent activities that are against the norms of the community and law.
- Public opinion about ethics and behaviour affects the conduct of people living in the society.
Research Methodology
This part of research deals with research methodology that was employed in conducting the study. It therefore covers the research locale, research design, target population, sample selection, research instruments, conducting, reliability of research instruments, validity of the research instruments, data collection procedures, data analysis, and reporting.
The research methodology that was used in the study is the combination of a qualitative as well as quantitative research method. By using this methodology, the hypotheses of the research questions can be measured, determined, and analyzed. The method also helped in determining the quantity and consistency of results. The method contributed in determining public perception on gang activities.
The method used is a descriptive representation of the phenomenon and collect quantifiable data that can be statistically verified and analyzed to measure the effectiveness of the whole research.
Hence, qualitative research technique was used as it was concerned with the quality or kind. This research technique uses in depth interviews for exploring the better view of the situation. It also intends to know about the understanding of people relating to a particular subject or institution (Research Methodology: An Introduction, n.d.).
Moreover, the survey provided important statistical quantitative data to compliment and confirm the findings presented by qualitative data.
Qualitative research is done with an aim to improve quality and is often considered as ‘Motivational Research’. It also focuses on people’s opinion about particular subjects or institutions (Research Methodology: An Introduction, n.d.).
The statistical survey provides standardized information about the research subject. It is a well-organized way to gather information regarding the understanding of a subject by a large number of respondents. For the purpose of this study, Likert scale is used for building the questionnaire in this paper. Likert scale is used to construct questionnaires to get psychometric replies from the people. It aims at obtaining the degree of agreement or knowing the preferences of the respondents. These scales do not use comparative techniques, but rather evaluate a single feature. The level of agreement has to be shown with the statements in an ordinal scale (Bertram, n.d.).
Likert scale system uses five-point scale system where the respondents have to pick any one option from the given five points. Before the final distribution of the questionnaire, a test research was carried out.
The design is best suited for this study. The rationale behind the choice of the design is that it studies individuals or objects as whole units and not in parts. Quantitative research methodology is used because data (perceived effectiveness) being tested in this study was through various sources which support it. The study is guided by the actual data collected from the respondents, and the purpose of the study is to analyze them. Such worldview requires the analysis of the strength of the facts and comments.
This worldview entails a systematic procedure and structure in the research process because it follows a rule-bound approach, which meant that this worldview made use of surveys, content analyses, field experiments, and other assessments that will collect verifiable data (Philimore & Goodson, 2004). The worldview also entails the focus on data that will reveal trends, patterns, and statistical relationships. A quantitative research methodology will also be used because the method will utilize open –ended questions as well as close questions; pre-determined approaches, and numeric data (Creswell, 2003).
According to Ross (1999), the quantitative method is more frequently associated with using surveys, which entails studying a large number of subjects that is drawn from a specific population. The research design for this study will employ the use of survey questionnaires and analyzing data gathered from the respondents.
The study involved the use of the questionnaires. These were prepared in advance, and the questions were reviewed to find their relevancy in the concept being investigated. The language used in the questionnaires was relatively moderate to be understood by the people and the procedure was understood.
Population and Sampling Procedure
The population of interest for this study is 100 people from KEAN University. Since this is a descriptive design, sampling is a significant process because of the need to obtain an accurate representation of the population (Heck, 2004). The people selected from the university better define this research since the people belong to the group of adolescents and are able to give clear picture of the topic for discussion and research.
Operationalizing Variables
To determine operationalizing variables for this study was not an easy job because it is difficult to measure abstract feelings or actions. Survey questionnaires were used as the research instrument. The survey instrument was based on the general type of questions related to their understanding about public perception on gang activities. For analyzing and measuring the gang problems, the estimated number of gangs was collected. Distribution and number of gangs by area type was estimated.
Reliability and Validity
The data collection method that was used needed to be clearly defined and described; in terms of the how instrument has been tested and validated by past studies (Sunderman et al., 2004). The strategy for obtaining good measures for the study involves upholding the relevance and appropriateness of the study for the data collected and the purpose of the study. Thus, the instrument section clearly defined the processes for this method, which will enable future researchers to duplicate the study.
In order to uphold the reliability and validity of this study, the participants were selected from the university.
Ethic Issues
The qualitative research has different ethical problem in comparison to quantitative research. The main focal point of qualitative research is to define, explore and examine people in their likely atmosphere.
Respondents were made aware of the purpose of the study, the researcher agreed not to reveal the identities of the participants and not to disclose their personal information for ethical reasons. All the respondents were made sure that their views on any questions would be kept confidential. This was to win their trust so the quality of data could be good. A particular time frame of the survey was decided and it was determined that interview time would not exceed from the set time and the respondents would not be stressed except they themselves wanted time for answering questions.
For better understanding of this topic the accurate population has been targeted and I feel the data collected through survey and questionnaire can effectively present good results for this research.
References
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