Quantitative and qualitative research methods are the two central methods for conducting research. Although there are both advantages and disadvantages to each of these research methods, many researchers decide to merely utilize one of the methods, without exploring the other method at all. This is a problem as these researchers only get to analyze their research from one point of view rather than from differing points of view. In other words, these researchers will solely rely on numbers and statistics or solely rely on interviews and observations. The researchers Bonta and Gendreau are open to utilizing both research methods, however, instead of simply using quantitative research methods. Conversely, the researchers Roberts and Jackson are …show more content…
Quantitative research methods involve the use of numbers to epitomize the ramifications of a study (Palys, 2014, p. 16). Quantitative research methods are also objective, with accurate measurement being the central aspiration (Palys, 2014, p. 16). Moreover, they involve the use of questionnaires and surveys, rather than the use of interviews or participant observation like in qualitative methods. In particular, Bonta and Gendreau did a qualitative and quantitative study on prison crowding and the effects that it has on one 's physiological, psychological and behavioural states. Notably, Bonta and Gendreau use numbers as evidence to elucidate that crowded prisons are capable of triggering physiological as well as psychological stress among prisoners (Bonta & Gendreau, 1990, p. 355). This elucidates that long-term confinement is indeed able to affect one 's mental state. In this study, Bonta and Gendreau use surveys to investigate the effects that overcrowding has on inmates by taking three variables into consideration; physiological, psychological, and behavioural measures. Physiological measures involve inmates ' blood pressure and heart rate, psychological measures involve inmates ' reports of crowding and discomfort, and behavioural measures involve assaults and misconducts on other inmates (Bonta & Gendreau, 1990, p. 352). These numbers would then provide the researchers …show more content…
557). That is to say, imprisonment is not sufficiently represented by studying human society and social relationships of imprisoned individuals, according to Roberts and Jackson. Additionally, they provide the reader with the notion that research that has been done so far contending that the effects of incarceration does not affect individuals mentally cannot be well substantiated. This makes the reader question whether or not Bonta and Gendreau are justifiable in their argument in stating that the imprisonment does not effect individuals mentally or emotionally. Roberts and Jackson use well founded, credible evidence to affirm that it cannot be corroborated that long-term confinement has no effect on a human being 's mental and emotional
Solitary confinement borders cruel and unusual punishment due to its association to extreme mental illnesses of its prisoners. Studies have shown healthy people obtaining mental illnesses after being confined for a short period of time. For most people this association, as well as its high cost to maintain the use of solitary confinement, is enough to stop the use of this style of incarseration and closing strictly solitary prisons. Others believe that restoring rehabilitating activities and medical attention for prisoners is more preferable than closing the prisons, because the prison is the prime employer of the small towns they were built in.
The effects of prolonged isolation for inmates in confinement cells are obsessive-compulsive tendencies, paranoia, anger-management issues, and severe anxiety (Sifferlin, Alexandra). Along with the basic concepts such as food, water, and shelter, there are two other basics that Dr. Terry Kupers states are required for human wellbeing: “social interaction and meaningful activity. By doing things we learn who we are and we learn our worth as a person. The two things solitary confinement does are make people solitary and idle” (Sifferlin, Alexandra). Isolation and confinement remove prisoners’ ability to perform significant tasks and act as a part of society. This dehumanizes the inmates because they are no longer able to understand their role as a human being. One inmate, Jeanne DiMola, spent a year in solitary confinement and expressed her thoughts while in the cell: “I felt sorry I was born … Most of all I felt sorry that there wasn 't a road to kill myself because every day was worse than the last" (Rodhan, Maya). In DiMola’s opinion, a death penalty more than likely would have felt more humane than the isolation she experienced. Another prisoner, Damon Thibodeaux, stated, “Life in solitary is made all the worse because it 's a hopeless existence … It is torture
Incarceration creates psychological problems for incarcerated criminals. Each prisoner faces different challenges, both mentally and physically. Since each prisoner has different experiences, each prisoner is affected differently by being affected by physiological effects created by incarceration. Some of the mental problems can be curable while others have no treatment. One of the mental conditions is dependency. When people are incarcerated, they are stripped of their freedom and independence. Prisoners are forced to follow strict rules of prisons and become dependent on them. Once they brought back into the outside world, they are returned their independence and freedom. Some incarcerated people are unable to function to provide for themselves because they previously relied on prisons. They cannot function independently in society due to their reliance on others. Some prisoners, over time in pris...
It was acknowledged that for some people whose lives were in chaos and who were causing serious harm to others, a time in prison could have beneficial consequences. Despite this, the WHO Mental Health in Prison Project agreed that for the majority of prisoners, imprisonment was likely to have the following effects: isolation from families and social networks, austere surroundings loss of privacy and poor physical and hygienic conditions, aggression, bullying, fear, suspicion and the attitudes of unsympathetic and uninformed staff, lack of purposeful activity, of personal control, of power to act and loss of identity; pressure to escape or to take drugs, shame and stigmatization. many times people have gone to jail for killing people, most people who kill people are crazy and are freaks. A lot of people who go to jail have mental break downs or have already had
It is certainly undeniable that the decision to commit a crime is ultimately individual, despite the fact that circumstances may make crime the option with greatest utility. It is also undeniable that central motivations for certain crimes are purely psychological or personal, like sexual assault without theft, or school shootings. Reform and rehabilitation, then, must be conducted individually, with respect and consideration of the emotional and psychological needs of criminals. The question is: can prisons meet these kind of needs? This is certainly a component of the governmental motivation behind nearly all prisons, or perhaps more of a justification for the stringent regulations placed upon the liberties of prisoners, such as physical confinement, structured time, manual labor, etc. It is suggested that these rules are for the good of the prisoners, but while these regulations are convenient for directing prisoners institutionally, the deprivation of liberties and dehumanization could have serious impacts on an individual’s psychological state. The physical and sexual violence most prisoners face from fellow inmates and from guards (Villines, 2013) compounds their punishment on a psychological level. Given that the justice system causes these psychological trauma to inmates, it
Extended periods of prolonged solitary confinement can have severe detrimental effects on prisoners. Moreover, “Few social scientists question that isolation can have harmful effects. Research over the last half-century has demonstrated that it can worsen mental illness and produce symptoms even in prisoners who start out psychologically robust” (Goode, 2015). Eventually, prisoners in solitary confinement will choose to freely withdraw from interaction, as that has become their new norm and feels most comfortable. Also, those that have studied solitary confinement report, “evidence of acute sensory deprivation, paranoid delusion belief systems, irrational fears of violence, resentment, little ability to control rage, and mental breakdowns…
Unfortunately, the majority of prisons house more inmates than they can manage safely and effectively, which creates an environment of disorder and tension and often times results in violent episodes. Down time in prisons for inmates is one of the most dangerous scenarios po...
The “pains of imprisonment” can be divided into five main conditions that attack the inmate’s personality and his feeling of self-worth. The deprivations are as follows: The deprivation of liberty, of goods and services, of heterosexual relationships, autonomy and of security.
There are two types of research that can be conducted in research studies, these are qualitative and quantitative (Newman, 2011). Qualitative research is a process that uses detailed oriented methodology that tries to achieve a profound knowledge or understanding of specific incident and circumstance, wh...
Gelo, O., Braakmann, D., & Benetka, G. (2008). Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Beyond the Debate. Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 42(3), 266-290. doi:10.1007/s12124-008-9078-3
The Stanford Prison Experiment, is "one of the most controversial studies in the history of social psychology." (Konnikova, M. (2015)) But really, it was a psychological study, in 1971, on the effects that a prisons can have on the individuals that inhabit there or the guards that guard those prisoners, for periods of time. In fact, it was a study to determine, understand, and gain knowledge on how an institution effected an individual or human 's behavior.
Imagine being locked in a windowless, lifeless environment for 23 hours a day. For some criminals, this environment is to be endured for years. The issue of prison reform has been a popular and difficult topic in the news the past few years and continues a year after this article was published. In the New York Times article “New York Rethinks Solitary Confinement” The Editorial Board argues that prison reform in the category of isolation is not only necessary but also beneficial in rehabilitating those who have commit crimes. With the Editorial Boards use of statistics, avoidance of the words “criminal” or “prisoner” and pathos appeal by informing how particularly weak minorities are affected.
In this paper, I will define quantitative and qualitative research methods and provide examples in the context of social issues which will hopefully provide insight into how this methods are properly applied.
Qualitative and Quantitative study designs both can be beneficial in research design. They both provide valuable options for researchers in the field. These techniques can either be used separately in a research study or they can be combined to achieve maximum information. This paper will define the terms qualitative and quantitative; describe the similarities and differences between each; discuss how qualitative and/or quantitative research designs or techniques could be used in the evaluation of my proposed research; and discuss why linking analysis to study design is important.
Qualitative and quantitative researcher’s exhibited conflicting ways of approaching a research. Some researchers prefer qualitative over quantitative and vice-versa. Also, it is common for qualitative and quantitative to be used together in a research. But, both methods when carried out correctly provide good research. Plus, both methods have their own unique differences and characteristics. In this paper I will define three of these characteristics in a quantitative and qualitative research design and discuss and compare their differences. (Smith & Davis, 2010)