CRITIQUE OF SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF APPROVED SCHOOLS

• NCJ Number: 55783
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1977) Pages: 361-369
• Author(s): J A WALTER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Sweet and Maxwell
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE INTERACTIONIST APPROACH TO SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH IS REVIEWED, AND THREE TYPES OF RESEARCH INTO APPROVED SCHOOLS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS--COMPARATIVE, ACTION, AND RESEARCH ON THE BOY'S VIEW--ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

ADMINISTRATORS AND PRACTITIONERS WILL WANT TO EVALUATE THE NEW SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY HOMES AND SCHOOLS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. REVIEWING THE KINDS OF RESEARCH INVOLVING THEIR PREDECESSORS--THE APPROVED SCHOOLS--MAY HELP DETERMINE WHICH METHODS AND THEORIES ARE INTELLECTUALLY VALID. COMPARATIVE RESEARCH INVOLVES THE SOCIOLOGICAL ASSUMPTION THAT TOTAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE FEATURES WHICH INSURE SIMILARITY AMONG INSTITUTIONS AND MITIGATE AGAINST DIFFERENCES. SUCH RESEARCH IS ENGAGED IN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT FINDING CAN BE GENERALIZED; HOWEVER, IT DISTORTS REALITY BY FORCING DATA INTO A FRAMEWORK FACILITATING COMPARISON WITH OTHER SCHOOLS. ACTOR OR ECALUATIVE RESEARCH IS COMMITTED TO MANAGEMENT IDEOLOGY, IN THAT PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE MET THEIR GOALS. THIS APPROACH TIES OBSERVATIONS TO SPECIFIC VIEWS HELD BY THE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS AND DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RADICAL ALTERNATIVES. RESEARCH ON THE BOY'S VIEW (I.E., CLIENT'S PERSPECTIVE) CONCENTRATES ON THE VIEWS HELD BY PARTICIPANTS OR INMATES. PROBLEMS INVOLVE RECORDING EXPERIENCES NATURALISTICALLY TO AVOID DISTORTING THEM IN THE PROCESS. TRANSACTIONALISM OR SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM RECOGNIZES THAT SOME PEOPLE ENGAGE IN CERTAIN KINDS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR MORE THAN OTHERS AND THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL REASONS MAY EXIST FOR THIS ACTIVITY. IT VIEWS THESE FACTS AS ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE PHENOMENON OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, HOWEVER, AND IS CONCERNED WITH WHETHER THE BEHAVIOR OF APPROVED SCHOOL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS IS ITSELF PROBLEMATIC AND WORTHY OF STUDY. IT IS ALSO COMMITTED TO NATURALISM--TO SEEING LIFE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE ACTORS. THE INTERACTIONIST APPROACH TO RESEARCH IS RECOMMENDED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KJM)