The topic I focused on for this exercise was related to the use of the criminal justice system in cases of elder abuse. Elder abuse refers mainly to the physical and psychological abuse experienced by elders who are residents of nursing homes. Because elders in nursing homes are often unaware of their rights, and because those rights are somewhat limited due to their status, this is a vulnerable population. The criminal justice system has only recently become involved in cases of elder abuse, which was not even recognized as an issue until fairly recently. As Roberto, Teaster, McPherson et al (2012) also point out, public perceptions of elder abuse vary depending on demographic variables.
Interestingly, there were few current event news articles on this topic when I performed a regular Google search. Switching to the “news” tab in Google, I found several newspaper articles that addressed the subject in relative depth, such as the Phillips & Vickstrom (2017) article that discusses cases in Minnesota and that state’s current laws surrounding the rights of elders in nursing homes. As a counterpoint, I used a scholarly article by Roberto, Teaster, McPherson, et al (2012), which was a qualitative study measuring participants’ perceptions of elder abuse and their beliefs about the community supports that mitigate the problem. Just as the news article concluded, a stronger interface between the healthcare system and the criminal justice system is advisable for addressing the problem. Although the information presented about the topic of elder abuse and the criminal justice system was not exactly the same, the overall conclusions were surprisingly similar.
One of the reasons why these two sources—one a news source and one an academic one—were similar is that the scholarly research was qualitative in nature. Also, the news article was investigative, more like an actual case study than a sensationalized news report, In this situation, I would say that using both the news and scholarly research is appropriate. The news offers insight into current events about this issues and also shows how the issue is being framed or presented by the media. The scholarly evidence offers analysis and in some cases, quantitative evidence that can be used to shape public policy. This exercise shows the importance of integrating scholarly sources into any investigation, even when it involves a current event issue.
Assignment 2
Reflecting on this past week of learning, I was struck most by how helpful it can be to use scholarly databases to confirm claims made in the media. Beyond the obviously unreliable sources online like blogs or websites owned by special interest groups or commercial businesses, the news sometimes contains information that is biased or misleading. The scholarly databases can yield a wealth of information on many subjects, which provides us with anything from theory to experimental evidence. I appreciate having access to both the Internet and the scholarly databases, and learning how to use both properly. The only question I have at this point is how I would search scholarly databases if I am not using the school’s login system, because these are not databases available on the Internet.
I have been doing better at searching the scholarly databases, too. Whereas I used to struggle with these databases, I finally know how to use search terms and narrow down the searches better. It still does take me a lot longer to find what I need, and often I am overwhelmed by how much literature is out there, but I am improving. If I had to offer some tips to fellow students, it would be to practice. The more you use scholarly databases, the less intimidating they become. I would also say that it helps to get used to the kinds of search terms that yield results. For instance, the way you are phrasing a topic might not be the best way to search for that subject. It helps to try out different keywords.
References
Phillips, W. & Vickstrom, A. (2017). Left to suffer. Star Tribune. Nov 17, 2017. Retrieved online: http://www.startribune.com/left-to-suffer-ways-to-address-the-travesty-of-elder-abuse/458344573/
Roberto, KA. Teaster, P.B., McPherson, M.C., et al (2012). A community capacity framework for enhancing a criminal justice response to elder abuse. Journal of Crime and Justice 38(1): 9-26.
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