Unobtrusive Measures & Official Statistics

Crim 320-023

Bryan Kinney

November 19, 2002

Unobtrusive Measures:

n A definition:

n “Unobtrusive measures are nonreactive methods of gathering data; that is, means of obtaining information in which subjects are not aware of being studied” (Hagan, 2003: 234)

n An immediate problem:

n Clandestine research and ethical treatment of research subjects/participants

n A quantitative emphasis for our (320) purposes

Major Types of Unobtrusive Measures

n Physical trace evidence

n Archival, existing data & autobiographies

n Simple observation

n Disguised observation

n Simulation

Physical Trace Evidence

n Deposits (selective)

n Artifacts left behind

n Accretion measures

n Signs of use, wear ‘n’ tear

n Other “indirect” indicators of human activity

n Hypodermic needles & drug use indicators

Archival & Existing Data

n Archival data sources:

n Looks to existing data

n Memoirs, diaries, historical documents

n Official statistics and records (UCR, CAD, etc.)

n Examples of Unobtrusive techniques

n Content analysis

n Media/communication analysis; analysis of texts/documents

n Secondary analysis

n Reanalysis of data originally collected for some other purpose (e.g., Police calls for service)

Observation

n In quantitative observational strategies

n Researcher is typically non-participatory

n Ode to “distanced”, “objective” observation

n Simple observation

n Naturalistic or experimentalist design; researcher presence conspicuous but not interactive

n Disguised (surreptitious) observation

n Also naturalistic or experimentalist design; yet now researcher actively disguises or attempts to ‘blend in’ to the research context; “clandestine” observation

n Humphreys’ “tea room” (1970)

Simulation Studies

n Field observations tend to be “messy” and difficult to effect “controls” for various variable effects

n Simulation studies can help avoid these difficulties

n “simulation is a situation or game that attempts to mimic, or imitate, key features of reality” (Hagan, 2003: 265)

n Stanley Milgram, Obediance to authority (1974)

n Haney, Banks & Zimbardo’s mock prison

General Advantages to Unobtrusive Techniques

n Unobtrusive data collection reduces/avoids reactivity

n Observations are thought to be more ‘natural’ & thus reliable

n Avoid over-reliance on attitudinal (self report) data (social desirability bias)

n Much archival data already exists (cost/time effective)

n Physical evidence collection provides a measure of anonymity; can be inconspicuous

n Archival/trace evidence allows study over time

n May be only way to capture historical social artifacts

Disadvantages to Unobtrusive Techniques

n Ethics, privacy, anonymity, confidentiality

n Surreptitious studies by definition do not ask for permission to include research subjects

n W/o permission, even greater pains needed to ensure unintended identification of subjects cannot happen

n Impact of potential exposure of identities can be even more damaging (embarrassing; dangerous; legal) than other research strategies

n Representativeness of subjects

n May be an atypical study group & not generalizable to a wider population

n Potential observational bias

n C.p. selective deposit

n Researchers and confederates both prone to this

n Try to have data triangulation

n Avoid relying on any data type as only source

n Perhaps archival/unobtrusive data more so than others

Examples of Unobtrusive Research

n We’ll look at two examples of research in action, both using official data (gasp!)

n First, we’ll suffer through some of my work on calls for police service and proximity to licensed premises

n Second, Rob will talk about research in process—problems working with data, organisation and general research advice

n Hopefully, this exposure will help you think about how to organise and survive your own research project in this class