Section B Homework Assignment – Research Methods

Karen Jennings (kjennings@iste.org)

A. The social research question I am interested in is racial profiling. Is racial profiling necessary to control drug trafficking into the United States? Are Hispanics and African Americans more likely than Caucasian’s to transport drugs over US borders?

B & C: Using only one research method to find the answers to this question is not possible. I will use three of the four, starting with:

· Survey research

Ø Form four groups, all male, each consisting of 250 Hispanic, African American and Caucasian volunteers.
Ø Pick volunteers from the same social, economic and educational level status.
Ø Present volunteers with the same questions that would consist of (these question are not set in stone, just a suggestion):
a. Racial ethnicity
b. Their view on dealing with prejudice
c. Are they prejudice
d. Drug background history

Ø Compile the information and record statistical information to compare with other forms of research.

· Observation

Pick an event or function to observe using all three races. The event could be Cinco De Mayo, Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration or the Eugene Celebration. All three events would have a racial mix. Watch how everyone communicates. Do Hispanics strictly “hang-out” with Hispanics? Are all African Americans wearing gang related colors? Are they acting or seeming looking like they are all on drugs? Are all Caucasians acting or looking as if they are not? When you drive on the highway, does the Highway patrol only pull over Hispanics or African Americans? Do they all have drugs in the trunks of their cars? Are the Caucasians pulled over just getting a speeding ticket or are their cars being searched? The answers to these questions may astound you.


· Existing Data

Finding existing data about this subject would be the easiest way, I feel, for finding information. Research the number of Hispanic, African Americans and Caucasians, both past and currently serving prison sentences for this particular crime. Are there more of one race than another? Check to see if this particular subject has been researched in the past and find out the results.


Ethical Issues

Racial profiling is a very touchy subject. Society seems to be victimized by prejudice. Those of different race seem to be singled out as guilty because they are not white. On the other hand, some people of race other than white victimize themselves. It’s hard to call. No matter what the outcome is, someone will not be happy. I don’t know the answer to my question because I haven’t conducted any research on the subject. If it were a perfect world, those participating in the research studies would not feel victimized or show any prejudice when answering the question. People of different race would not be suspect to drug trafficking just because of the car they drove or the color of their skin. Then again, in a perfect world, there would be no drug abuse, thus no need for racial profiling.