Developing a Research Proposal

Research proposal

Introduction

Research bases its success on the appropriate use of research tools to comprehensively analyze the factors affecting the research question. Existing literature is used to back these variables as well as assist in the development of queries and indexes that help answer the research question better. Additionally, appropriate sampling designs are necessary for conducting an accurate survey on the subjects in a discussion. This paper focuses on the establishment of these essential tools in the research on drug trafficking.

Variables Measured In the Research

Age

The intensity of an individual’s involvement in drug trafficking varies with age. According to research by Traughber, the median age of drug trafficking arrests is twenty-six years (2007). That number is lower when it comes to arrests based on drug consumption, which is a median of twenty-two years. This data suggests that the youth are actively involved in the drug business. However, data analyzed solely from arrests is insufficient to conclude that young people are the drivers of the drug business. Is it possible that the older dealers are just more vigilant than their rookie counterparts?

Race

A person’s race is a significant determinant in the kind of drugs they deal with. Capistrán points out that most white people traffic marijuana in countries where the drug is illegal, while blacks are mostly attracted to cocaine (2019). In terms of involvement, whites have the most cartels due to their exposure in the drug world and their access to better resources. It is, therefore, justifiable to say that race is a variable.

Financial Strength of Participants

The financial ability of drug traffickers is essential in discerning their degree of entanglement in the illegal business. Individuals with more financial might are likely to be higher up the chain, trafficking copious amounts of drugs to different destinations. These individuals are also expected to dominate the market, controlling the price of the drugs they deal with. What is the likelihood that it is these individuals who bribe law enforcers?

Crime Correlation

In most cases, drug traffickers also run other organized criminal activities. Cheekes argues that this is an effective way of gaining or maintaining dominance in the business (2019). The higher the ranking of a drug cartel, the higher their chances of involvement in other forms of crime. Therefore, does the active investigation into other capital offenses solve the drug trafficking menace indirectly?

Social Status

The social aspect of drug trafficking is more significant for small scale peddlers. At the local level, individuals from low-income families engage in illegal drugs selling for sustenance. Individuals from high-income families mostly engage in the business due to peer influence, since they want to fit in and blend with their peddler friends. I would suggest that middle-income individuals are a mixed breed, but are they?

Resources

Money is the primary resource in drug trafficking, but it is also essential to consider other secondary resources. These resources would include cultivation land, manufacturing bases, personnel, and means of distribution. These resources are the fundamentals of drug trafficking, and the use of questionnaires is the most feasible means of evaluating this dynamic variable.

Market

Discerning the point of sales of drugs is also a crucial element in the aversion of drug trafficking. Also, determining the cycle of deals as well as peak and slow seasons is vital. The drug market is an evolving one, whereby clients demand different drugs during different seasons. There is also the issue of competition between gangs, hence the need to sustain client base by providing the best quality drugs (Naranjo, 2015). However, the question here is: Just how volatile is the market?

Legal Restrictions

The statutory provisions of a country help distinguish between legal drug dealing and drug trafficking; hence, these are the cornerstone of the whole concept. These provisions vary from one country to another. For instance, the possession or use of marijuana in the United States is illegal, while the same drug is allowed in Canada for recreational purposes. This factor affects the cost of distribution and demand of the drugs.

Religious Affiliations

The affiliation to religion or lack thereof influences the demand for drugs, thus affecting the distribution pattern. Generally, individuals who are inclined to religious beliefs are less likely to use drugs while atheists are open to the idea. For active drug traffickers, to what religion do a majority of them subscribe?

Geographical Influence

The geographical location of drug traffickers influences the type of drugs they grow. Other than that, it indirectly affects other variables such as race and legal restrictions.

Test for Reliability and Validity

Most of the data used and in this section is derived from police records and primarily on the number of arrests made. Based on this information, the reliability of the data is not certain as data from other sources is not considered. I would suggest that the measurement operations from the ten variables get derived from volunteer drug traffickers who agree to participate in the research. As such, their data would be firsthand with a high degree of accuracy making it both valid and reliable. However, this approach would necessitate the protection of volunteer participants by offering them immunity against their offenses. It is, therefore, rather expensive and time-consuming.

Sampling Designs

For Campus Only

I would use the convenience method, which is a non-probability sampling method. At the campus, the general population is relatively smaller, making it easier to reach all members of the community. I would handpick my sample, based on varied factors such as age, religious affiliation, race, and social status. I would, therefore, have an affluent specimen, which increases the accuracy level of my results. This technique is also reasonably inexpensive.

For each variable, I would ensure to select all the specimen of different category. For instance, under the race variable, I would have a sample of a black and a white. Under the religion variable, I would have atheists, Christians, Muslims, and other available religions as a specimen for the research.

For a larger Population

If I were to survey my city or the entire nation, I would use the random sampling technique in order to get a representative sample. The advantage of this method is that it would ensure that the inference I make will be accurate. One disadvantage is that I would have no choice over the specification of my desired samples.

Conclusion

Both dependent and independent variables stake highly in the fight against drug trafficking. However, analyzing them and deriving the necessary results from these variables is an essential step since it leads to further research which might provide answers to the research question. The convenient use of accurate data is also critical to the success of the research project. Hence appropriate data sampling techniques should be used.

References

Capistrán, J.B. (2019). Drug Trafficking and Propaganda: The Image of Drug Trafficking in the

Mexican Press 2006-2010. Journalism and Mass Communication, 9(1), 56-60.

Cheekes, E. (2019). Jonathan D., Rosen and Roberto Zepeda, organized crime, drug trafficking,

and violence (Felipe Calderón to Enrique Peña Nieto). Global Crime, 20(1), 65-68.

Naranjo, A. J. (2015). Turf and Illegal Drug Market Competition between Gangs. The B.E.

Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 1(1), 61-62.

Traughber, C.M. (2007). Terror-Crime Nexus? Terrorism and Arms, Drug, and Human

Trafficking in Georgia. Connections: The Quarterly Journal, 6(1), 47-64.