Assignment : Annotation Quantitative Research

This week, you will submit the annotation of a quantitative research article on a topic of your interest.

An annotation consists of three separate paragraphs that cover three respective components: summary, analysis, and application. These three components convey the relevance and value of the source. As such, an annotation demonstrates your critical thinking about, and authority on, the source. This week’s annotation is a precursor to the annotated bibliography assignment due in Week 10.

An annotated bibliography is a document containing selected sources accompanied by a respective annotation of each source. In preparation for your own future research, an annotated bibliography provides a background for understanding a portion of the existing literature on a particular topic. It is also a useful first step in gathering sources in preparation for writing a subsequent literature review as part of a dissertation.

Please review the assignment instructions below and click on the underlined works for information about how to craft each component of an annotation.

It is recommended that you use the grading rubric as a self-evaluation tool before submitting your assignment.

By Day 7

· Annotate one quantitative research article from a peer-reviewed journal on a topic of your interest.

o Provide the reference list entry for this article in APA Style followed by a three-paragraph annotation that includes:

§ A summary

§ An analysis

§ An application as illustrated in this example

o Format your annotation in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced. A separate References list page is not needed for this assignment.

o Submit your annotation.

An example of a annotation of a quantitative research article;

Quantitative Annotated Bibliography

In light of the intensification of racial profiling conflicts reported by the media in recent years in the United States between African Americans and police officers, it seems the problems between the two groups is escalating. One of the features of racial profiling is rooted in a cultural phase called “Driving While Black.” In the African American and other minority communities, this phrase signifies a perception of the amplified probabilities of being stopped, searched, and detained solely because of the color of your skin. Unlike white motorist, nearly all minority motorist, particularly black motorist have complained of racial profiling deriving from negative racial bias shown by police officers during routine traffic stops. Therefore, the social problem of racial profiling is a topic deserving of researching and exploring to bring about positive social change in society.

Annotated Bibliography

Ridgeway, G. (2006). Assessing the effect of race bias in post-traffic outcomes using prepensity scores. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 22(1), 1-29. doi:10.1007/s10940-005-9000-9

The researcher in this study examined the methods for detecting race bias in the actions of police officers in Oakland, California after a traffic stop. Ridgeway (researcher) utilized the propensity score approach employed successfully by criminological researchers examining domestic violence and analyzing street violence intervention. The propensity score technique afforded Ridgeway an opportunity to evaluate racial biases in police officers while simultaneously comparing the number of traffic stops among the target group (black drivers), against a comparison group (white drivers). Ridgeway’s decision to weigh officer’s discretion to stop, to cite or warn, to search, and to detain were all influenced by the driver’s race. Also, 75 percent of searches conducted by Oakland police were of black drivers. The study suggested a probable cause to stop, cite or warn, search, and detain is more likely among black drivers than non-black drivers. Additionally, the outcome search comparison between black and white drivers is higher among blacks in spite of Oakland officer’s rationale for patrolling high crime in minority neighborhoods. Although race biases in individual officers is hard to correct, the study offered a recommendation that officers stop, cite or warn, search, and detain black & non-blacks equitably in their discretion to stop drivers.

The principal strength of this research design is the utilization and alignment of historical research appropriating the propensity score methodology in their endeavors to investigate racial biases in other domains. Another strength of this examinations is the location of the study. The city of Oakland is among many similar cities across the United States where a bounty of racial profiling incidents is reported, and a context where the bulk of the city’s population is racially diverse. Moreover, a diverse population furnishes researchers with a greater opportunity for avoiding threats to internal validity during the selection process. Despite these strengths, the examinations additionally offered some weaknesses. Take, for example, in the chorus of the observations the researcher should have invested his energies on correlations of gender and racial profiling to detect if racial biases exist. Additionally, the data suggested stronger presents of racial profiling against blacks than whites during post stop encounters with police.  However, the research lacks any data regarding racial profiling experienced in Asian and Hispanic communities.  To further boost the strength of the study, the researcher could have employed their methods across other populations. Perhaps applying their techniques or methods across the Muslim community, where traffic stops have risen may also point to racial profiling by police. Therefore, by observing various groups, in different settings, and employing similar application to each situation, researchers then can better grasp the causes of racial profiling in today’s society.

This examination is not only value added to criminology, but also to the social science community as well. Ridgeway’s research can be delivered across multiple policing training initiatives designed to overcome and bring awareness to racial profiling during routine traffic stops. Additionally, this research is beneficial to changing negative policing practices employed only in minority neighborhoods.  Ridgeway’s enthusiasm to study the growing problem of racial profiling will aid on the road to implementing new policy changes and legislation regarding this issue in the future, though he never implies this in his study. Finally, I would like to see this data shared among all stakeholders, police and victims (minorities) to improve on building positive relationships in their communities.

Research Topic

How the attitude and feelings of students toward their teachers affect their performance.

Positive attitudes and feeling of students toward their teachers contribute a lot to their performance since it helps them to develop positive attitudes toward various subjects. Additionally, it promotes the creation of an excellent learning environment.

My worldview is supported by the existentialism and which is a philosophical orientation, and it states that students should be permitted to ask questions, perform their inquiries and make their conclusion of various issues and this is possible if students have positive attitudes toward their teachers (Babbie, 2017). Additionally, students should be granted freedom of choice since different students have different ability and potentials. They should be given an opportunity to choose the field in which they fit correctly.

Based on ontology, it is known that different students are talented differently and have different abilities, therefore, a good and stable relationship between teachers and student, and which is created if a student develops positive attitudes toward their teachers can facilitate teachers to known and understand abilities of various students and thus guide them to achieve their dream (Burkholder et al., 2016). Epistemologically, we can research to find out how the attitude and feeling of students toward their teachers affect their performance.

There are various research approaches which can be used in this study. A survey is one of the best since it will involve selection of students from different schools in the region and ask them how attitudes and feeling of students towards their teachers affect their performance and as a result will be able to know whether attitudes and perceptions of students towards there teachers change their performance.

References

Babbie, E. (2017). Basics of social research (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Barrett, E., & Bolt, B. (Eds.). (2014). Practice as research: Approaches to creative arts inquiry. Ib Tauris.

Burkholder, G. J., Cox, K. A., & Crawford, L. M. (2016). The scholar-practitioners guide to research design. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Publishing.