Research Question
One of the most challenging professions for women, the work in the field of corrections, has spurred a surge of applications from women recently. According to the summary offered by the American Society of Criminologists (2011), the number of women who are willing to devote their careers to the field of correction has increased considerably, which is a peculiar issue worth researching.
In addition, according to the ideas conveyed by Flannery (2011), the fact that women conquer the field of corrections can mean that women are willing to enhance the role of their actions in society and contribute as much as men do into the social sphere, thus, making the male and the female gender issues dissolve (Lambert, Paoline, Hogan & Baker, 2007). Therefore, the question is what exactly motivates women to take their chance, challenge the social stereotypes and choose a job in the field which was originally considered a typically male profession.
Qualitative Research Orientation
It is essential to add that the qualitative method is the optimum decision for the given research since the issue requires not only the theoretical background but also an analysis of the statistical data, which will involve certain calculations. For instance, it will be necessary to take into account the number of women currently occupying the positions in the sphere of corrections, find out the number of women engaged in the given sphere earlier and then figure out the ratio of the women previously engaged into the correction sphere to the current one. Therefore, the given strategy is more appropriate than the quantitative analysis.
Research Design
The role of the researcher
It is worth noting that the role of the researcher in the given project is rather important. First of all, the researcher has a considerable amount of knowledge concerning the given issue, as well as the controversies connected with the issue, which means that there are certain grounds for the researcher to undertake this exploration. In addition, I can claim to have certain experience in the given field, since I have read a large number of sources on the issue of women taking leadership over their male colleagues and am particularly interested in the ways women manage to offer better results than men in such sphere as the field of corrections.
Sample size
Speaking of the size of the research, one must mind that the paper is going to embrace a certain time lapse, because, sadly enough, women gained recognition in the sphere of law only two centuries ago. In addition, the paper is going to touch upon only U.S. history, for it hardly seems possible to embrace the corresponding changes in every part of the world. Thus, the key limitations of the research are time and space, which means that the paper is going to be of middle length. Not to clog the research with the irrelevant data and not to reduce it merely to the enumeration of the statistical data, one will find it most reasonable to write a paper of some five pages long.
Sample and context
As for the sample of the study that is going to be conducted, it is necessary to mention that the paper is going to touch upon the issues that are relevant to the issue of women’s employment in the field of corrections. Among the rest of the elements that are going to be included in the research, the key ones are:
- the factors that enhance women’s employment in the field of corrections (both inner and outer ones);
- the reasons that make women apply for the jobs in the given sphere, tracking the causes down to the peculiarities of the psychological development, the frame of mind and the impact of the environment;
- the age of the women applying for the given job;
- the status of the women willing to get a job as employees in the field of correction.
Sampling procedure
It will be most appropriate to use the theoretical material, the statistical data from reports on women in the field of correction, and even certain examples from interviews with women working in the given field.
Data type and collection
Speaking of the data which is going to be collected for the given research, the most obvious types are age, social status, and the statistics concerning women’s efficiency in the field of corrections. The given type of data will allow defining the reasons for women to engage in the given activity.
Data analysis
To conduct the data analysis, mathematical calculations must be carried out. In addition, certain deductions must be made. Finally, with the help of comparison, the most legitimate reasons for women to enter the field of corrections will be chosen.
Ethical protection of participants
It is also worth keeping in mind that some of the data types offered above can be considered confidential, which will mean that the researcher will have to search for the substitution to avoid ethical issues.
Reference List
American Society of Criminologists (2011). The official newsletter of the American Society of Criminologists. Web.
Flannery, K. (2011). Coping methods of female correction officers. School of Justice Studies. Web.
Lambert, E. G., Paoline, E. A., Hogan., N. L. & Baker, D. N. (2007). Gender similarities and differences in correctional staff work attitudes and perceptions of the work environment. Western Criminology Review, 8(1), 16-31.