Ethics

The need to make society a safe place to live and one where everyone can go about ones business without threats of being harmed in one way or another is a genuinely important one (Maxwell et al. 2007). Individual and societal security is paramount and ought to be given the attention it deserves. Although there are many forms of crime which have dogged the British society, knife crimes have of late been noted to be among the leading. The knife culture is especially popular among young people where it seems to be catching pace quickly. The circumstances revolving around knife related cases are complex since there is not a clear definition of the crime. Despite the complexity of the issue, crimes soar such as homicide and victimization (Leyland 2006). The authorities have difficulty in addressing the issue since it has a broad spectrum and laws related to knife crimes are not well defined. It is important to understand the technicalities behind the knife crime since everyone has a high probability of being a victim (Maxwell et al. 2007). In addressing the issue, reference has to be made to the root causes of the problem. This research proposal seeks to determine the causes of knife crime, effects and the impacts it has on the youth and their communities. It seeks to understand why young ones are carrying knifes and using them constantly and why there are increased cases of stabbings and homicide that are knife related.

Importance of the Research
Knife crimes are sensitive and complex since there is no clear definition of the same. In addition, knifes can be used in other crimes such as robbery and murder, they can be used to in self defence especially when one is victimized and intimidation and threats (Maxwell et al. 2007). The mere carrying of a knife is deemed to be an offense while ironically there is so much anxiety and fear of victimization. This can only be addressed by providing a safe environment and good living conditions. Just like other crimes, knife crimes require adoption of policies that allow for job creation and promote justice and good remuneration for it to be curbed. Increased cases of homicide, paralysation, and other attacks all knife related, raises the urgency of addressing the root causes of the same. Due to the inadequacy of researches carried out on knife crimes, it is necessary that awareness is raised and strong measures instituted to curb it (Leyland 2006).

In addition, there is need to address the impact of the same to alert the public especially potential and vulnerable people to lower the impact through making sure that preventive measures are taken and awareness of what to do in a situation involving knife crime and the emphasis on the need to create good security measures that boost confidence and an environment conducive to report such cases. In a nutshell, having an understanding of the causes and effects of knife crimes can help in coming up with ways of addressing the problem.

Aims and objectives of research
The specific aim of this research is to evaluate the causes and effects of knife crimes especially among young people.
The objectives of the research are
To create awareness of the causes and effects of knife crimes especially among the youth
To analyse the factors behind the knife carrying culture
To evaluate the effects of knife crimes on the youth and their communities

Literature review
In order to be in a better position to understand the subject matter well enough and so make the research easier and successful, it is important that a review of the literature available on the research area is done. According to the British Sociological Association, Knifes vary in design depending on the purpose they are meant to fulfil. It is therefore a complex issue to address knife crimes since knifes are just used for necessary work such as in the kitchen though they can be misused. Maxwell et al. (2007) notes that as levels of victimization that are knife related soar, there is a build up of anxiety, fear and uncertainty especially among young people who are the key targets in knife related crimes. Every person has the right to live freely without fear, threat or intimidation. This reveals the necessity of creating awareness and providing facts of the same so that the young generation can have the freedom to live their lives fully to self actualization and become productive, useful and positive contributors in their fields. Prevention is always better than cure and it is only prudent to address the knife crimes since you never know who the next victim can be.

Thomas (2008) believes that conflict is a major cause of knife crimes. He asserts that it is due to gang policy and activity to carry knifes. These gangs are prevalent due to poverty, unemployment and hopelessness. He also believes that gang cases can be out of revenge from past victims while others do so for protection purposes. Thomas suggests education, increasing police presence as the main ways of curbing knife crime. The Children  young people now (2009) asserts that the mode of parenting plays a role in knife crimes together with police mistrust making many knife related crimes go unreported. The research suggests that the issue of knife crime be considered as a public health issue with findings of the need to increase media coverage, address supply issues and amnesty concerns. Public Relations Department reports (2007) show that there are concerns over knife crime since cases related with the same have soared despite the addressing of increased penalty. This report reveals that the issue can be dealt with conclusively by addressing the underlying issues of violence, insecurity and fear. Evidence from the research shows that the trend in knife crimes has been stable such that it is hard to evaluate whether there is an increase or decline in the same.

Knife carrying among the youth is common though the underlying issues of the nature, motivation, growth and frequency cannot be adequately evaluated (Leyland 2006). Sharp instruments used in homicides have the knife as the most common. It shows that the use of knives in homicide related cases has declined in the past decades. Further it shows that there is a correlation between the knife carrying and involvement in crime and victimisation. However, there is limited research regarding the motivation for knife carrying especially for the past victims of crime more so children under the age of 16 and young people. The available researches show that the children, young people and those of black and minority ethnic communities especially those from poor backgrounds lead in knife carrying and knife related cases and are more prone to being victims (Maxwell et al. 2007).

Most researches into gang crime show that it usually involves gangs. In his research on tactics against gangs, Davies (2008) observes that the efforts of the government to tackle gang crimes are usually challenged by researches that are usually misinformed, with frequent fails and targeted to strengthen the gangs. Researches further find out that prisons, health services and schools are usually unprepared to adequately respond and collaborate to problems related to gangs.  Further the police have been known to target gang members not involved in criminal actions thus limiting the causes of help and information as these targets are driven into gang membership. Davies reports that the researches into gangs revealed that they are in reality based on friendship networks, less organised with unstable leadership. It further contradicts that gangs are black by revealing that the race and colour of the gangs vary from one neighbourhood to another. It further showed that the members of a gang usually targeted by the police are usually not involved in criminal actions and some of them are usually victims of crime (Davies 2008).

The research criticizes the manner in which the gangs are handled by intimidation and targeting their families which does not help in getting the necessary information. It further asserts of the level of discrimination accorded to poor people in knife crimes and victimisation through delayed police response that inhibits the techniques of handling the issue (Public Relations Department 2007). The mechanisms of dealing with knife crime differ from one nation to another. Hence the dependence on US research in handling the crime is illogical since the systems in the US are strong in the fight against knife rime as compared to the UK (Davies 2008).

Methods
To be able to make the research successful, it is critical that appropriate methods of data collection as well as the approaches to the research are used. This is because the choice of the methods will have a great bearing on the reliability of the research (Phillips 2008). Being a member of the youth club, I will include the young people in the youth centre and the staff. Most knife crime victims are young people and the knife carrying culture is rampant among the youth. They there for have personal views and experiences hence the need to include them. This research targets the young people in the youth centre since they are knowledgeable of the knife crime related issues and can be able to relate the experiences of the young counterparts. In addition, they are mainly school students who are in for their holidays. Staff at the youth centre is important in this research since they are involved in dealing with knife crime victims such as through counselling and working with the communities hence they have the experience of causes of knife crimes and effects of the same. To get the target people involved in the research, I will have to explain to them the reasons for the research and how their involvement would be necessary to achieve the aim and objectives of the research.

Quota Sampling
The methods of sampling to use would be quota sampling (Phillips 2008). The main consideration is that the research must be based on voluntary participation. This is to include the characteristics that would cause a difference in the responses due to lack of probability and random characteristic. In this system, the sample has to consist of members of both genders, those who have been involved in victimisation or had effects of the same either from the victimization on someone close to them or those involved in such cases and representative of race and locality. The sample size ought to be adequate to form a valid conclusion. This sampling technique has the advantage of effectiveness where random sampling is not possible and it is not hard to carry out since the time involved in this is less (Phillips 2008). Another advantage is that it can be used to get the right sample size. However, the demerit of this technique is that there may be biases from the sample (Phillips 2008).

Data Collection Methods Pros and Cons
The choice of methods of collecting data is a direct function of the outcome of the research and only the most appropriate methods ought to be used (Phillips 2008). The methods of data collection to use are mainly questionnaires and interviews. It is important to carry out surveys for the large sample but administer interviews to a smaller population sample mainly in this case those involved in knife crime, youth centre staff and young people from different localities with reference to include age and gender. The questionnaires are effective since they provide a clear picture of the population and a good measure of reliability and validity. Surveys are convenient in this kind of research because of their advantages. They can be used on a large sample and statistical techniques applied to analyse the reliability and validity of the same. Surveys are flexible and offer good coverage of information regarding attitudes, past behaviours, beliefs and values (Phillips 2008). The standardization of surveys enables them to be free from errors enabling them to be more reliable and valid for forming conclusions. The cost involved is relatively cheap and the administration of them is relatively easy. Since they involve structured questions that are relevant to the study area, time and money is spent on the targetable areas improving their validity. Personal interviews carried on the small sample are advantageous in that the non verbal messages can be observed and more clarification to the responses given.

Although the method is advantageous, there are few disadvantages of the same that include the dependence on the subjects honesty, memory, motivation and ability to respond may be compromised while the answer choices may lead to vagueness of datasets because of the relativity in the strength of the choices given (Phillips 2008). The questionnaires and surveys are the best choice method to collect data in this case since the target group in this case are the young people, who are available at the youth centre (Phillips 2008). The level of these young people is one that overrides the demerits of surveys. This is in terms of the sensitivity and concerns about the knife crimes which is the objective of the research, the fact that they have the ability to respond, are knowledgeable of the knife crimes and with I personally carrying out the research, they are likely to be cooperative and objective to make the research a success.  The reliability of this research is based on the method used in research, the sample used and the timing of the research. The surveys will be important in statistical information of knife crime and in addressing the root causes of the crime which can be addressed adequately to tackle the impacts of knife crime (Phillips 2008).  The timing of the research during the holidays will reduce biases formed from group surveys and increase the objectivity and reliability. The sample chosen to be used is knowledgeable on knife crime, motivated on the same and is likely to provide valid and up to date information (Phillips 2008).

Ethical Issues in Research
Ethics is important in research because it not only ensures that the research is carried out without any undue restrictions from the participant but also enhances the authenticity ad so the reliability of the findings. Resnik (2010) defines ethics as the disciplines aimed at studying conduct standards such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, law or theology. It is more of a perspective, method or procedure used in action decisions and analysis of issue and problems that are complex. Norms of ethics in research serve as the aims and goal of the research. He identifies the main ethics in research as integrity in sincerity and consistency of actions and thoughts, honesty in data report, procedures and methods, results and publication, objectivity to avoid bias, openness to new ideas and criticism, respecting intellectual property, carefulness to avoid negligence and errors, non discrimination, responsible publication, confidentiality, mentoring responsibly, respect, social responsibility, competence legality, animal care and protection of respondents (Resnik 2010).

Every research is based on factual information. Researchers have the responsibility of following the ethical issues in their work since the respondents could be at risk. Trochim (2006) observes that there is a new consensus where the people most affected by the issue of research are the most willing to take part in the research. This has created sensitivity in handling the research so that it is not a mere experimentation on human life.  The ethical concerns are the voluntary participation principle where respondents do not have to be coerced to take part in the research. The requirement of informed consent requires that the respondents are aware of the risks and procedures to be involved in the research and give their consent to take part. The level of confidentiality is important. Since researchers are involved in factual information of their respondents, the degree of confidentiality has to be maintained for reliability (Resnik 2010). He further raises issues such as, anonymity in research to be maintained through out the research. Respondents have to be anonymous even to the researcher and this is difficult to accomplish. It is required that researchers do not put participants in situations of risk of harm arising in the course of their participation.
 
The main reasons for the ethics in research are reviewed by Resnik (2010). He asserts that the importance of research ethics is for the promotion of aims and objectives of research that include knowledge, error avoidance and truth. Ethical standards do encourage essential values for the collaborative work such as fairness, accountability, respect and trust. He further outlines that they help improve the levels of accountability of researchers to the public and as such encourage the support of research by the public. In addition, they promote social and moral values such as safety and health, legal compliance, animal welfare, social responsibility and human rights. Resnik argues on the need for researchers to make decisions that are ethical in their research since the ethical standards are not usually conclusive, may conflict and this would call for prudent interpretation depending on the circumstances presented.

Guidelines for Ethical Research
The British Sociological Association (2004) provides guidelines for ethics in social research. It aims at creating awareness and responsibility for ethical practice in research. It urges on the need to maintain integrity in the discipline of social research through ensuring freedom to study and research, promotion and publishing of sociological results and ensuring the availability of research reports for future research. Members should ensure they act in competence by not accepting to carry research that they are not qualified for. Safety issues have to be addressed to mitigate the risks involved in research. In media relations, the reputation of the discipline should be protected through refraining from giving expert commentaries in a manner appearing to give credibility to the research work (Resnik 2010). Members have the responsibility of dictating the use of their data and mode of dissemination especially where there is anticipation of misuse by third parties, social interests that are competing and social conflicts. Research relations need be characterised by integrity, trust and protection of participants. Special care is required in cases of vulnerability in terms of mental health, age and disability issues or participants (Resnik 2010).

In researches involving children, it is necessary to seek the consent of both the child and the parent. Research involving the internet requires caution and knowledge on the subject since there is limited research on internet research (British Sociological Association 2004). The relationship between the sponsorsfunders and researcher should be one that allows for professionalism in research and based on provision of information and not mere attainment of a certain conclusion or approach in the course of action preferred. There is need for advance clarification regarding the obligations of the sponsorsfunders in a written contract while being cautious not to imply or promise acceptance of conditions that contradict the professional ethics or those that compete with the commitments of research (Resnik 2010). Members should clarify their obligations to the sponsorsfunders in honesty to expertise and qualifications, merits, demerits and limitations of the methods of data sources and analysis as well as the discretion of confidential information.

Ethics in Data Storage
The manner in which data is stored is important because it is indicative of the level of ethical considerations accorded to the participants during the entire research (Resnik 2010). The mode of storage of my research is a joint responsibility with my supervisor. The main consideration is to adhere to the procedure followed in my university for the storage of research data and records (British Sociological Association 2004). IT will be necessary to confine in my supervisor regarding the data that is strictly confidential to allow for the storage of the same in the specified manner. Precautions are necessary regarding the anonymity and confidentiality of my participants. This can be achieved by limiting access to such records (Resnik 2010). A copy of the research is to be stored in the department and a personal copy given for my one personal use. Milligan provides that research data and records should be stored in a manner that allows for easy identification and retrieval. The system of storage used should be easy to understand and maintain the records (British Sociological Association 2004). It is advisable that they are stored in the department or area they have been generated or related subject areas. The records may be stored in the researchers own office, the supervisors office or transferred to a central place of storage in the department. The department of records and storage is normally responsible for the storage of work in a synchronized manner (Resnik 2010).

According to Milligan (2009) on the core issues in  social science research ethics, data needs to be stored safely and with limited access and should not be passed on without consent especially that which does not allow for identification. Ethical standards require confidentiality and anonymity in the research process as a way of enhancing data protection (Resnik 2010). Research data collection and storage is required to comply with the data protections act of 1998. There is need to follow data protection guidelines and policies of the university (Milligan 2009). The researcher has to be aware of the risks of confidentiality, privacy and anonymity for all personal information processing and storage, such as email records, video tapes and audio, computer and paper files. Participants must make informed choices based on awareness of risks involved. Prevention of breach of confidentiality is necessary and at the end of the project making provisions for security of the data (Resnik 2010).

Researchers have to ensure that research data regarding their participants is available only to the audience that they themselves have agreed to (Milligan 2009). This requires the adoption of appropriate data security precautions and procedures. The Data protection act of 1998 requires information to be lawfully and fairly processed, accurate, and not excessive for the purpose, adequate and relevant, obtained and eventually processed for a specific purpose, processed according to the rights of the participants and securely stored. Adequate protection is crucial in case of transfer abroad. The British Sociological Association requires that the principles of voluntary participation and informed consent are followed as a basis for data security (Resnik 2010).

Conclusion and Limitations
Although this proposal is expected to guide a superb and properly executable research, it is likely to face limitations owing to various challenges. The research involves surveys and interviews. There are challenges to be encountered that range from reliability of the information to be given. Knife crimes is a very sensitive issue, however, there are few researches that have been done on the same. This poses a challenge since there is little to be relied upon. Another issue is the fact that there is an element of risk or harm. The people to be involved in the research may be hesitant to give adequate information due to fear for their safety. This poses as a challenge since some of the participants may be involved in the crime. In conclusion, the issue of knife crime still remains critical and more research is necessary for reliable measures to be taken. In view of these limitations, the research team ought to begin the research early enough so as to get the participants ready and prepared. This will greatly improve the reliability of the findings. There also ought to be an allocation of more time to enable the research to be conducted in the most conclusive manner.