Description |
1 online resource |
Series |
SAGE Research Methods. Cases |
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SAGE Research Methods. Cases
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Summary |
This case study summarizes the research process I used in performing empirical testing of Donald Black's general theory of social control using archival source documents, my doctoral dissertation. Specifically, Black posited that formal and informal social controls were inversely correlated. I noted at the time that prior research had examined the effects of changing levels of formal social control while ignoring any effects of informal controls. I further noted that for Black's theory to truly be a general theory, it would have to hold true across time and location. Therefore, I decided to test the theory as applied to women (an under-researched population) living in Texas between 1850 and 1900 (the time and place being under-researched in social history and criminology). Based on the literature, I decided to measure informal controls as stereotypes of women as they appeared in newspapers, there being theoretical support for stereotypy as social control. This would require newspapers to be subjected to content analysis, a much lengthier and complex process than I had anticipated. Data for formal controls were obtained through a review of inmate records from the Texas Prison System over the era, a far more enjoyable and less onerous process. Although in the end, the results were of value, the process was time-consuming to the point that, looking back I wonder whether the results were worth the investment of resources and if there could have been a better way to accomplish the same goal |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
Notes |
Description based on XML content |
Subject |
Texas Prison System.
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Social control.
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Women.
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Form |
Electronic book
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ISBN |
1526429020 |
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9781526429025 (ebook) |
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