Mixed Methods for Policy Analysis

Answer

Analysis of School Shooting and Focus Group Research

The type of research used in a study determines several aspects among them the credibility and quality of the findings. In the mixed methodology approach which entails both the qualitative and quantitative models, developing effective research questions and hypotheses is the foundation of obtaining credible results for analysis. The focus group research is merited for sufficient information in a study thus is widely used particularly in the qualitative methodology. This paper evaluates the focus group research in a school shooting case study by Clemons & McBeth (2016) where parents denoted as ‘Participants’ are engaged by a facilitator regarding the causes of school shootings.

Content Analysis of Problem Identification

Based on the responses by the different participants in the narrative analysis, there are a number of reasons which these individuals base the cause of the school shootings problem. In the 7:00 P.M discussion, the participants identify the media as the main source of the increased school shootings. According to Participant 1, for instance, the media glorifies the shootings thus kids trying to make a name for themselves end up doing the horrible things. This is asserted by participants 2 and 3. However, another cause of the problem is that parents are to blame for not monitoring their kids effectively as noted by Participant 4. According to this participant, if kids were controlled on what they watch on the television, then perhaps the increase in these school shootings would not be present. In the 7:08 P.M discussion, guns are identified as the main sources of the mass shooting problems. Participant 5 notes that the accessibility of the kids to guns makes the killings easier. However, this issue of guns has different opinions from the participants. For Participants 6 and 7, they believe that guns are not the problem since there are other killing weapons such as rock which inflict more pain and injuries as compared to the fast killing machines. The policy frameworks associated with the gun aspect are the gun control Acts. Participant 6 relates the gun approach to killing with a drunk individual implying gun ownership as not the problem but its usage. 

With guns regulation being the central aspect of the debate, some of the arguments put across include the role of NRA and gun manufacturers. Controversy is on the laws passed to address the possession of the firearms. Participant 6 puts NRA on the spotlight regarding teaching kids how to handle guns. Participant 5 notes that gun safety is not the issue but gun control. Participant 3 puts the gun owner in question if the weapon falls into the wrong hand, which also falls under the gun regulation aspect.  Based on the 7:13 P.M discussion, it is apparent that there is a problem which majority of the participants argues is related to society. Participant 9 notes being worried about the kids with all the violence going on. Participant 1 notes that the media has overstepped in its function as the reporting of the incidences may influence the increased occurrence of the situation. According to P6, shootings that happened a century ago most likely went unnoticed. The regulation, in this case, is what media reports, where reporting on everything regardless of the consequences is a major issue. Further, the society is to blame for their approach to such a situation. Years back, those responsible would be held accountable in the strictest manner possible. Today, issues such as counseling are the major topics which are not assisting in mitigating the situation but rather aggravating it. Also included in the subject are the crime approaches such as anti-crime measures which evaluate gun problem and government efforts to avert the challenge.

The combination approach of both inductive and deductive reasoning is used to analyze the situation. Inductive reasoning involves the logical approach where the different premises which are believed to be true are integrated to develop a specific conclusion (Overton, 2013). Deductive reasoning entails analyzing a situation from a particular to a general aspect. Inductive reasoning in the school mass shooting approach is reflected by the combination of the identified causes of the situation from gun ownership to social behavior. These causes arrive at a particular conclusion on the social system being the source of the issue. Deductive reasoning is as reflected in the school shooting being the particular element to the social system where gun ownership, NRA, media and cultural aspects being the general aspects of the problem. Based on the presented narrative analysis, both the manifested and latent contents are important for the analysis. This is as reflected in the responses by different participants. While Participant 5 identifies gun manufacturers and NRA as the main aspects responsible for the school shootings, Participant 8 offer a different suggestion that the issue is not about guns but rather child related challenges where the society is to blame for raising kids with psychological issues. In addition, as Participant 5 directly insinuates that the issue is about gun control, Participant 8’s latent content is about the social system being the issue. The reliability and validity of the findings are based on the combined reasoning approach. Moreover, not only are the conclusions based on reasoning, but also the direct quotation of the issues raised by the participants.

Facilitator Critique

One of the major aspects relating to the validity, credibility, and authenticity of this narrative analysis is the competence of the facilitator who portrays professionalism in conducting the debate. While using both general and leading questions, the facilitator ensures that the participants comprehensively explore their comments and issues. For instance, the opening question is on the general thoughts on the recent school shootings then proceeds with asking whether there is a specific cause of the problem. In various situations, the facilitator takes up the moderator’s role effectively by asking the participants to focus on the questions and the topics. To correctly grasp the participant’s arguments, the facilitator revisits a response for clarity as reflected in the 7:08 P.M discussion where participant 5 is asked to explain the point again. The facilitator is also keen to offer personal thoughts but seeks participant’s thoughts as reflected in the 7:18 P.M discussion. The leading questions make the facilitator effective in introducing a topic such as the 7:25 P.M question to Participant 1 on the hidden government agenda on the problem. Essential to note is that the facilitator does not contradict own opinions and questions.

Surveys and Focus Groups Comparison

Indeed, there are variations in the two approaches to conducting research. The mail based survey provides less information, thus affecting the quality and reliability of the study (Brinkmann, 2014). The focus group system is interactive, thus providing more information and insights on a situation. For instance, while Participant 5 notes that guns are the issue, Participant 6 notes that society is to blame for psychologically challenged children. The interactive aspect of the focus group approach provides the researcher with critical information that was not in the study questions or hypothesis. In this session, developing a survey based research would be based on the causes of the mass shootings as well as the solutions. Among the questions and selection responses would include:

1. What is the leading cause of school shooting?

• Guns (2) Social challenges   (3) Crime-related activities     (4) Media 

1. If guns are the problem, are the society and government to blame?

• Yes (2) No

1. What social challenges are the causes of school shooting?

• Poor parenting (2) Cultural dynamism                        (3) Increase in crime

1. Should the media be regulated on what it reports on school shooting?

• Yes (2) No

1. Should gun licensing be outlawed?

• Yes (2) No

Symbols and Metaphors

Symbols and metaphors are constantly used in the school shooting focus group analysis. Participant 4 while responding to Participant 7 in 7:20 P.M discussion mentions that the parent sounds like old Star Trek Captain Kirk based on the response. Another symbolism is how school shootings through the use of guns is compared to use of rocks to kill by Participant 6 in the 7:08 P.M. discussion. Participant 2, while analyzing the role of the parent in the child’s behavior, notes that whenever the child goes to another person’s house, the guardian there cannot be like a watchdog. The use of causes and stone’s discussion is symbolic in understanding the causes of the situation as well as how it can be controlled.

What Next

Regarding the causes of the school shooting, the next approach is presenting focus group information to the policy analysts who can base these facts and parents’ concern to develop new laws or enhance the existing regulations. Apparently, this approach is more democratic as compared to other policy analysis such as web-based email survey. This is based on the fact that such a discussion does not discriminate any individual or source thus more insights are obtained. It also presents the public opinion of the target population.