NCJ Number
209714
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2005 Pages: 135-152
Date Published
May 2005
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Utilizing examples of noncomparative studies, this article addresses the need for greater emphasis on the use of comparative studies in street gang research.
Abstract
Based on the single assumption that street gang research is nowhere near as cumulative as it could be or could have been, this article calls for greater attention to gang research based on comparisons to be more productive. The variations are concerned with types of comparison studied by coordinated rather than disparate methods. This article cites studies involving such comparisons and was selected to be illustrative. Of all the comparative studies gang researchers have undertaken over the many years, it was found that most types of comparison have been given relatively little attention. A number of opportunities for comparative research are reviewed: gang member comparisons, gang members versus non-gang youth, cross-gang comparisons, comparisons across locations, historical comparisons, and methodological comparisons. Selected studies are cited for each typed comparison in order to illustrate the advantages of planned comparisons. References