Various research projects explore the topic of school incidents in the United States, articles are published, and conferences are held. They address the motives and predictors of attacks and finding ways to prevent such behavior. However, there is a small number of works that talk about campus reactions. This important problem is described and analyzed in the article under the title “Campus response to a student gunman” by Asmussen and Creswell (1995). The researchers conducted a thorough investigation of the ways campus responds to incidents involving school shooters and what measures they implement in order to reduce the number of such cases (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995). This article was selected since it can be regarded as an illustration of a thorough and exemplary qualitative research.
First, the relevance of any project is determined by the relevance of the chosen topic. For example, Tracy (2010) notes, “high quality qualitative methodological research is marked by a worthy topic” (p. 839). There is no doubt that the chosen subject for investigation is vital since the problem of school shootings became especially pertinent. It has been acknowledged that “the prevalence of community traumatic events such as school shootings has increased dramatically in the last decade” (Vieselmeyer, Holguin, & Mezulis, 2017, p. 62). Clearly, it is critical to explore the meaning behind the trend and reasons for its prevalence, which can be achieved through the implementation of a qualitative study. The choice of the topic for qualitative research can be a difficult task, and the article under analysis provides insights into the ways to narrow down such a broad topic as violence on campus.
Another exemplary aspect of the article is the use of a sound qualitative methodology that enables students and new researchers to use such designs effectively. According to Asmussen and Creswell (1995), they include the approach of inquiry, research design procedures, as well as philosophical, theoretical frameworks, and assumptions. Professionals of qualitative research note that while conducting an investigation, it is necessary to “ask questions instead of posing hypothesis” (Creswell, 2015, p. 97). The use of ethnography ensured a wealth of data that could be analyzed with considerable precision. The utilization of this method seemed a complex and hardly relevant approach to me. However, the present study shows the peculiarities and benefits of this approach as the collected information was sufficient for drawing conclusions and developing a theoretical framework related to the chosen topic.
It can be seen from the text that the investigators defined the primary issues explicitly. One of the purposes of this article is to examine themes that are connected with incidents, which are denial, fear, safety, retriggering, and campus planning (Asmussen & Creswell, 1995). These topics resonate with any student (including myself) reaction towards violence on campus. Fear and the need for safety seem central themes, and the article has several outcomes. For example, it shows that these themes are common and discussed widely. The study also reveals some ways university and individuals can use to address fear and safety needs.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that further work is necessary in the field of responding to critical situations; nevertheless, the researchers provided useful information that can be utilized by other investigators. The article in question illustrates the benefits of certain qualitative research designs and provides insights into the most effective ways to use these methods. Clearly, the work under analysis also sheds light on the topic that is still relevant.
References
Asmussen, K. J., & Creswell, J. W. (1995). Campus response to a student gunman. The Journal of Higher Education, 66(5), 575-591.
Creswell, J. W. (2015). 30 essential skills for the qualitative researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Tracy, S. J. (2010). Qualitative quality: Eight “big-tent” criteria for excellent qualitative research. Qualitative inquiry, 16(10), 837-851.
Vieselmeyer, J., Holguin, J., & Mezulis, A. (2017). The role of resilience and gratitude in posttraumatic stress and growth following a campus shooting. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 9(1), 62.