MCJ Comp Exam – Methods
Fall 2013
TAMUCT
Answer one of the following questions, including as much relevant detail as possible. You will
be graded on content, organization, and sentence structure. Please cite primary sources for
ideas and concepts not your own, indicating author(s) and year of published work. Minimally,
you should cite three sources, although more than three sources would be ideal. Inability to cite
at least three sources is unacceptable for passing. A References page is also required.
In the header of your document, identify yourself by your comp exam ID as indicated on the
sign in form (e.g., Methods – Williams).
A. Killeen is experiencing an increase in purse snatchings. The problem appears to be
localized within two shopping areas that are geographically distinct. Killeen PD wishes to
implement a foot patrol strategy that would generally be visible in an effort to deter
purse snatchers. The cost of this program, however, is prohibitive; therefore, the City
Manager wants to know if such a program would be effective before implementing it.
You have been hired as a consultant to conduct a pilot study to determine if the foot
patrol strategy would work.
Design a study to assess the effectiveness of the foot patrol strategy in reducing purse
snatchings. This design must include the following: (1) the research question, (2) the
specific research method you will use to collect data, (3) the conceptual and operational
definitions of your dependent variable, (4) the conceptual and operational definitions of
your independent variable(s), and (5) a basic discussion of what statistical technique(s)
you would use to manipulate and analyze the data. Identify the potential threats to the
internal and external validity of your study and how you would address them. Do you
anticipate any ethical problems with your study’s design? Is so, how would you handle
them?
B. Some researchers argue that children in poverty are more likely to engage in delinquent
behavior. Ruby Payne identifies several conceptual dimensions for measuring poverty,
six of which are listed below:
1. Financial – having the money to purchase goods and services
2. Emotional – ability to control one’s emotions without engaging in selfdestructive behavior
3. Mental – having abilities (reading, writing, calculating) to deal with daily life
4. Spiritual – believing in divine purpose and guidance
5. Physical – having physical health and mobility
6. Support systems – having friends, family, or other people to whom one can
connect in times of need
Design a survey study for exploring the causal connections between poverty and
delinquency, using three of the listed concepts for poverty. Discuss how you would
operationalize (measure) them and delinquency; for example, discuss how certain
questions might serve as measurable indicators of these concepts. Also comment on
how your survey questions would enhance content validity. Discuss two threats to
validity in your study, identify the types of validity being threatened, and how you would
address those threats. Finally, discuss one ethical issue that is likely to arise and how
you would handle it.