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Assignment 3

The document discusses various research methods suitable for different legal and social research questions. It emphasizes the use of quantitative methods for analyzing objective data, such as sentencing patterns and crime rates, while advocating for qualitative methods to gather personal insights and experiences from clients and focus group participants. Each question highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate method based on the nature of the data required and the research objectives.

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Raghad Mhish
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40 views2 pages

Assignment 3

The document discusses various research methods suitable for different legal and social research questions. It emphasizes the use of quantitative methods for analyzing objective data, such as sentencing patterns and crime rates, while advocating for qualitative methods to gather personal insights and experiences from clients and focus group participants. Each question highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate method based on the nature of the data required and the research objectives.

Uploaded by

Raghad Mhish
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Question 1: A researcher is interested in examining the impact of a new law

on the sentencing patterns of judges in various jurisdictions. They want to


determine whether the law has led to harsher or more lenient sentences
overall. Which research method should they choose, and why?

The researcher will need to use quantitative data from database records on
the sentences made before and after the introduction of the new law. Why
this research method is more appropriate because the information required is
black and white, and no one’s opinion was required.

Question 2: A law firm wants to improve its client services by understanding


clients' experiences during the legal process. They decide to conduct
interviews with past clients to gain insights into their feelings and satisfaction
levels. What type of research method is being used, and what are its benefits
in this context?

The researcher will need qualitative data to improve its client services as
individual input is required for feedback (what the company could improve).

Question 3: A criminal justice researcher is tasked with studying the


correlation between socio-economic factors and crime rates across different
cities. They plan to collect and analyse crime data from multiple sources to
identify trends and correlations. What method is appropriate for this study,
and what type of data will be most useful?

Quantitative data as the researcher is required to look at quantitative data to


understand the correlation between socio-economic factors and crime rates
across different cities.

Question 4: A researcher wants to understand how public perceptions of a


specific law, such as drug decriminalization, vary among different
demographic groups. They plan to conduct focus groups and gather
qualitative data from participants. Discuss the advantages of using this
qualitative approach for the research question.

Qualitative provides personalised data and will offer the researcher a broad
range of opinions that is not biased and represents different sections of
society.

Question 5: An academic is studying the influence of recent legislative


reforms on environmental protection, aiming to quantify their effectiveness
by measuring pollution levels before and after the enactment of laws. Which
research method should they utilize, and what type of analysis would be most
appropriate?

Quantitative as the academic is required to exam the impact of specific laws


by looking at statistics. It will provide valuable insight for the academic in
studying the influence of the recent legislation on pollution.

Question 6: A researcher aims to compare the effectiveness of two different


legal systems in resolving commercial disputes. They plan to gather case
studies and conduct interviews with practitioners in both systems. Identify
the research method used in this scenario and discuss its significance.

Qualitative as the research needs non-numerical values and a variety of


individual responses at the topic.

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