Public Opinion Crime, Criminal Justice, Related Topics
Kahan, D. & Braman, D. (2003). More statistics, less persuasion: a cultural theory of gun-
151 (4), 2-37
What is the objective / research question?
In this article, the discussion highlights the motivation of individuals, to take a stand as opposition or support to the regulation of guns. The objective of the research is the arguments that can provide a resolution to the gun control debate.
What is the hypothesis?
The hypothesis is that cultural orientations are a strong indicator of the likely position of the individual than any other factor (Kahan & Braman, 2003). From the cultural theory, we get the perception that economic analysis of the impact of the regulation of gun to violence and crime does not determine the position of the people.
What is/are the main dependent variable(s) (outcome measure(s)) and how is it/are they measured?
The dependent variables include the attitudes and perceptions of the individuals and the environmental settings of the people against gun control. They were measured using interviews and questionnaires with people randomly from the public.
What is/are the main independent variable(s) and how is it/are they measured?
The independent factor in the study is the culture of the people being interviewed and also the group membership of the people. It is recorded using questionnaires and interviews.
What variables were controlled for?
The variables of study controlled include the number of people selected from the various communities and regions of the study.
What is the unit of analysis?
The data source is the General Social Survey of 1988-2000.
What is the population being studied?
The data source is the General Social Survey of 1988-2000.
The report findings
The analysis of the article shows that the social scientists, present the question; does the presence of guns make the society more or less safe? For those who are of the option of supporting gun control; they argue that the availability of the guns in the hands of people diminishes the safety of the public. It facilitates the occurrence of the violent crimes and the incidences of accidental shootings. On the contrary, the opposition of the control of guns has the opinion that, by potential victims of crime and other neighboring people having guns, they are able to ward off the...
The empirical social scientists have not managed to convince the public on any position in gun control debate; because they are also divided. They have continued to concentrate on the consequences of gun control and thus, are not addressing the actual worries of the public. According to historians, guns are not just weapons, but symbols associated with negative or positive events such as the Civil War.
What was the conclusion?
Conclusion of the article summery; from cultural theory, the individuals' attitude towards guns control is shaped largely by the social order they uphold. People inclined to solidarity view are likely to support whereas those of hierarchic and individualistic view oppose. The cultural orientations determine the position of a person more than any other factor. Therefore, to solve the debate, the discussion should move from quantification of effects of guns and focus on constructing a culture and vocabulary to allow the deliberations to bear fruits.
Kates, D. (1994). Gun control: separating reality from symbolism. Journal of Contemporary
Law. 20 (1), 353-379.
What is the objective / research question?
The research question is whether there is difference of the reality about gun control from what the guns symbolize.
What is the hypothesis?
The hypothesis is that the failure of the anti-gun advocates to realize the vast contrary scholarly corpus indicates that the 'American gun war' is a culture conflict (Kates, 1994). It is not about the direct factor of the gun ownership of criminology, but rather it is about the ideology and morality in the public.
What is/are the main dependent variable(s) (outcome measure(s)) and how is it/are they measured?
The dependent variables are the speeches given to the University of Minnesota Law School's Federalist Society; and the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU). They are measure by analysis of the speeches.
What is/are the main independent variable(s) and how is it/are they measured?
The independent factor is the second amendment and the racial aspects of the people. They are indicated in the two speeches.
What variables were controlled for?
The variables controlled include the selection of the two universities in which the speeches were given.
What is the unit of analysis?
The unit of analysis is the two speeches and the analysis…
