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Gathering Research

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Gathering Research Data Paper
CJA/334
University of Phoenix

Gathering Research Data Paper Looked upon as honorable individual’s who protect the community from harms way are those who fulfill the position of being a law enforcement official. Police officer’s dedicate themselves to striving in protecting and representing their community with the service in which they provide. Putting their lives at risk during the hours of work and aside from the career life these individual’s live like any other person. Much of their time is spent out on the streets patrolling and when they are not they find themselves in court being pressed for information from lawyers regarding cases. Emphases of this paper is to provide some of the data information on why people choose to become a law enforcement official.
Why a Law Enforcement Official? Many may believe that officer’s take on the career to follow another family member’s foot steps. To specifically conclude on this matter the information in which will need to be attained will be through the process of intense researching online and via telephone interviewing. The first thought in which must be received is defining why individual’s choose the career of becoming a police officer. According to Nicole A. (2007) it has been noted that many officer’s become involved in law enforcement due to family tradition. Having the desire to follow parent’s footsteps in the same career path has been noted as being a huge reason. Many individual’s feel that if they do not carry on the family tradition they will be looked down upon. Another reason the editor mentions why people become officers is for personal justice (A, Nicole, 2007). If something terrible has happened towards a loved one or close friend it has been found that they join the force for personal justice. Trying to deter the crimes that have caused the grief within their lives is their primary focus. It has also been noted by Nicole (2007) that some like the adrenaline rush that comes with the job. To begin the telephone interview the conversation will be with Sergeant Samuel Massey with the Oak Island Police Department in North Carolina. A common question in which many have is “why become an officer, and what career choice would they have done otherwise?” Sergeant Massey responds by stating “he has grown up only knowing law enforcement.” “His father was an officer for many years’s before the family started their own private investigating company.” “Still involved with the family business I also wanted to do a little more with law enforcement and became an officer over twenty-years ago.” The interview proceeded by asking what is his favorite part of his job that he desires the most? Per Sergeant Massey his answer was short but to the point with a response of “serving and protecting our community.” Some may wonder what an officer feels may be their most challenging part of their job what would your answer be? “There are many challenges that come with this job but as an officer you must accept these challenges and move on.” On this note the interview proceeded by asking him what is feared most by an officer? Per Sergeant Massey “there are many fearful things’ that come with the job however, if I had to define one thing it would be the life of an innocent person being taken due being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” “This has happened within our county already and it not only strongly affects the officer involved but all officers within.” The interview proceed by asking if he felt officer’s today have proper training to be a successful officer? “I do believe the training in which the State of North Carolina requires and the follow-up continuing education credits needed to keep up-to-date on skills is exceptional.” “I do not feel that change is necessary at this time.” “I can’t speak for all areas but I can speak for this particular state.” With the above questioned asked there were many other questions that prevailed but Sergeant Massey needed to leave out for a call. With these answer’s it clearly allows many to understand where an officer comes from when it comes to why they choose the career in which they do.
Qualitative versus Quantitative Research When it comes to the distinction in regards to qualitative research versus quantitative research is that qualitative creates a hypothesis and quantitative tests the hypotheses (Hagan, 2010, Ch 1 p.15). Qualitative research provides solid information that is designed for individual’s who are observing on different levels. Qualitative research generally will depend on the following methods in regards to how the information is attained; participant observation, non-participant observation, field notes, reflexive journals, structured interviews, semi-structured interviews, unstructured interviews, and an analysis of the material and documents obtained (Marshall, 2006). When analyzing this method it is evident that within the criminal justice system this method is applied.
Confidentiality
In the criminal justice system confidentiality is extremely important in many areas including the conduction of research. Many times when research requires the interview of an individual the guarantee that the information will remain confidential is imperative. Most of the time confidentiality may not just be viewed as ethical but in fact it is the governing law.
Conclusion
Having the knowledge as to where officer’s stands, in regards as to why they choose the careers in which they do has been attained through basic research within this essay. Many questions were asked in regards to their career through the process of research and the interview process with Sergeant Samuel Massey. It is evident that research is imperative and as long as research is kept within the parameters of the law, the information that is obtained will be justifiable to use later if necessary.

References
A, Nicole. Reasons Why People Become Police Officers (2007). Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/143523/reasons_why_people_become_police_officers.html
Hagan, F. Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology (2010). Retrieved October 12, 2010 from Ch 1 p15
Marshall. Data Collection Methods (2006). Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/10985_Chapter_4.pdf

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