Research Methods/Plan

Olivia Burd

Professor Beauzil

Social Science Research

November 3, 2024

Research Methods/General Research Plan

I plan to collect my data through content analysis and from an angle that I would for an ethnographic study. Since ethnographic research is about learning about a certain culture I think it makes sense for my research as I am focusing on the culture with US and Norwegian prison systems. Ethnographic research will also benefit me in focussing on the culture for inmates reentering society, which plays a role in recidivism rate. Since firsthand accounts won’t answer all of my questions I also intend to use content analysis to answer the rest of my research questions.

The data that I intend to use ranges from peer-reviewed research to government documents, and first-hand accounts and interviews. Ideally I would be able to go directly to prisons to see how things work and talk to people there, but since I am unable to do that I am going to rely on documents where others share information they have gotten from interviews or things that inmates have said directly. The research data that I find will focus on the science behind rehabilitation in prisons as well as how rehabilitation practices can be put into place. I also am using peer-reviewed research to prove the connection between rehabilitation and recidivism rate. The data that I hope to obtain from interviews is how the prison system currently is in both countries of focus, and what it’s like to be released from prison and have to reenter society. The interviews should describe the struggles of life after prison which will prove the necessity of rehabilitation inside prison. Lastly, the government data will show the most information about recidivism rate as well as what they plan to do to combat it or what they have done already.

For my participants I need to have an even balance of first hand accounts from United States and Norway, as well as government documents from both countries. Since I am unable to actually interview people inside the prison, my “participants” are those who have agreed to be part of other research or interviews. I will also access press releases and other statements from government officials, making them participants too. However, the most important participants will be inmates who have been released and then ended up back in prison or have really struggled to stay out. I think the only way to prove how crucial rehabilitation is, is to include first hand experiences from those who have struggled to reenter society.

With all of the data that I collect I plan to divide it up into sections based on my research questions. This strategy will make sure that I answer all of my questions and ensures that I don't have a bunch of irrelevant information. Once all of my information is organized in this way it will also allow me to see where I might need to gather more information and where the gaps are in my own research. I will also be able to form “sub-questions” from the information that I gather. I don’t have many sub-questions yet so this will allow me to see where it may be beneficial to include further information.

Lastly, I am very aware that this topic could come with a lot of bias. People and researchers alike all have their own opinions on criminals and how the criminal justice system works. I really need to make sure that as I am gathering data that I make sure none of it is a form of opinion. I also am looking for research that shares both positives and negatives of the prison system because those sources usually have less bias; I don’t want to use sources that only address what the government is doing wrong. I am trying to avoid a right and wrong situation but rather a scientific explanation for how recidivism rate is affected by rehabilitation inside prisons. In my own biases, I just need to ensure that when I am writing and researching that I am sharing facts and backing up all claims with reliable sources.