Survey methods for means of punishing sexual offenders
Sexual offenders are individuals who are convicted for committing sexual crimes including sexual assault, rape, or engaging in sexual activities with a minor. Due to the severe nature of these sexual offences, society bears different attitudes regarding the punishment of sexual offenders. According to a study carried out by talking to individuals over the phone 733 of the participants replied indicating that they feared sexual offenders and agreed with the requirements set that all sexual offenders should be registered as sexual offenders (Kernsmith et al.). When surveying the public’s attitude in regards to the punishment of sexual offenders, two methods, i.e. interviews and questionnaires, should be employed to collect comprehensive data.
When surveying the general public, it is vital to comprehend that the topic is quite sensitive as the respondents may have been victims; they may have family members who are the subjects, or they may have personally been offenders and rehabilitated. Once one comprehends the diversified nature of the public, it is easier to tackle the survey. The next step would be to select the most suitable means of conducting the survey. I would use two methods in conducting the survey, namely questionnaires and conducting interviews (Sincero). The reason for utilizing two surveying techniques is to ensure that I cover a large population while varying the questions I ask. I would administer questionnaires using social media, E-mails, and hard copy papers. Interviews would be conducted over telephone calls, face to face, and avenues like skype.
Questionnaires are essential in covering attitudes of the general public regarding the punishment of sexual offenders as some may feel the need to offer responses anonymously. This means of the survey would be very efficient as the respondents do not have a one on one conversation with the one administering the questionnaire. In the questionnaire, it is vital to be sensitive in the questions one should attempt to ask sensitive questions bluntly but instead intelligently ask direct questions indirectly. The questionnaire should also avail room for the respondents to not answer some of the items if they do not feel comfortable answering them. Questionnaires have the main advantage, which is they can be used to cover a large population in a short period. Another advantage is the answers in questionnaires are easily quantifiable hence easy to analyses the respondent’s attitude from their responses. The downside of questionnaires is they are limited to the literate who can read, write, or are technologically knowledgeable. Another disadvantage is the respondents may misunderstand the questions; hence, giving answers do not clearly depict their attitudes (Choudhury).
Interviews, on the other hand, lack the anonymity factor, but they are highly effective when attempting to get the respondents’ attitudes. In the interview, the interview should be as sensitive as possible, and the interviewee’s face may be hidden to increase confidence in the interviewee. Here, the interviewer can gather information like expressions and body language hence providing them with adequate information concerning the respondents’ attitude regarding the punishments. Interviews are advantageous since they are open to everyone, literate and illiterate. This technique is, however, tedious and takes time to compare to the questionnaires (Sincero).
In conclusion, I would recommend using both interviews and questionnaires. Questionnaires would be utilized to cover a large population of people then interviews to cover a smaller number of people to get the actual attitudes without chances of misinterpretation. The small number of people can be used as a small representation of the broader population. When results from these two techniques simultaneously used together are synthesized, the results obtained regarding the attitudes of the public regarding the punishment of sexual offenders are more accurate.