The ORIGINAL POST: Read the article "The Street-level Information Economics Activities: Estimating
the Yield of Begging in Brussels" (This article can be found at the website link in the Reading & Study
folder). Based on the principles of survey research noted in Chapter 1 of The Mismeasure of
Crime textbook, describe your thoughts on trusting the research used in the article. Describe the
limitations of the research and article. Would you base public polity with respect to beggars off of this
article?
1) Based on the information presented through the article “The Street-level Information Economics
Activities: Estimating the Yield of Begging in Brussels,” and the information from Chapter 1 of The
Mismeasure of Crime textbook, I would not base public policy solely off of the article. According to The
Mismeasure of Crime textbook, there are many factors to consider in survey research that could alter
the reliability and/or validity of data (Mosher, Miethe, & Hart, 2011). Because of the numerous
possibilities of biases and limitations, findings from any research study should be critiqued, analyzed,
and compared with others before being implemented for policy purposes.
While the researchers conducting the study on beggars in Brussels do a remarkable job accounting for
various limitations, they simply cannot cater to every issue of reliability or validity that may arise in their
endeavors (Adriaenssens & Hendrickx, 2011). The research study incorporates several different
methods, including self-reports, observations, and a quasi-experimental version of participant
observation. From the data gathered, the researchers make a reasonable estimate of the income of
beggars. While this is a good start in the right direction of understanding the life and social implications
of beggars’ incomes, the research cannot be applied to every context. For example, different locations
and countries could and are likely to have much different results than the ones found in Brussels. Also,
social and economic climates are constantly changing, so results from when this study was conducted
could look much different in modern day society. In conclusion, I believe the findings of the research can
prove to be very useful and can lead to public policy changes with more corroboration from other
research and more specific time and place analysis.
References
Adriaenssens, S., & Hendrickx, J. (2011). Street-level Informal Economic Activities: Estimating the Yield
of Begging in Brussels. Urban Studies, 48(1), 23-40. DOI: 10.1177/0042098009360688
Mosher, C. J., Miethe, T. D., & Hart, T. C. (2011). The mismeasure of crime (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA:
Sage Publications, Inc. ISBN: 9781412981811.
2) Although the article had several limitations, the research can be used to support future studies on
beggar incomes in Brussels. The authors noted the limitations of the study and that the research is best
used as a "starting-point" for other research (Adriaenssens & Hendrickx, 2011). Therefore, other studies
can utilize this study as a guideline or reference to develop more accurate conclusions. In addition, other
researchers can develop effective research methods based on the self-reports, observations, and quasi-
experimental methods used in the article (Adriaenssens & Hendrickx, 2011).
The research would be more accurate if every 'beggar' in Brussels was studied. The study only used six
participants and only two were female (Adriaenssens & Hendrickx, 2011). More women should have
been included in the study to achieve a more accurate conclusion. As a result, the authors may have
made an overgeneralization about the homeless population. The completed surveys are unreliable due
to reporter bias. Moreover, observations made during the study are likely biased as well. For the study
to be effective, researchers should have used homeless shelters. A system could be implemented to
ensure shelters catalog every individual who stays there. Surveys with anonymous reporting can be
distributed to the shelter tenants. Consequently, the researchers will gain a better understanding of the
amount of homeless people in the area and income estimates. Although biased, the surveys may lead to
a better understanding of income.
Because begging is not illegal, public policy could not be ethically created to prohibit it. Furthermore,
due to the limitations of the article, it would be unwise to create public policy based on this research
alone. However, this article and research can be used to support future research on beggar incomes.
Surveys would have to be formatted in a manner that encourages honesty. Many researchers collect
and analyze data without considering bias (Mosher, Miethe, & Hart, 2011). A general margin of error
should be implemented to account for reporter bias, nonresponse, and extra submissions. Overall,
public policy cannot be created based on this research due to its many limitations and the lack of more
accurate information.
References
Adriaenssens, S., & Hendrickx, J. (2011). Street-level Informal Economic Activities: Estimating the Yield
of Begging in Brussels. Urban Studies, 48(1), 23-40. Retrieved
from https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098009360688.
Mosher, C. J., Miethe, T. D., & Hart, T. C. (2011). The mismeasure of crime (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA:
Sage Publications, Inc. ISBN: 9781412981811.
Running head: LAW DISCUSSION RESPONSE 1
Law Discussion Response
Institutional Affiliation
Students Name
Date
LAW DISCUSSION RESPONSE 2
Response one
With precise analysis of your discussion, I agree that many factors make the research data
unreliable. The research study results must be critically analyzed and compared with others
before implementation for policy purposes (Mosher & Miethe, 2011). You have also made a
valid argument that research data cannot be used for every situation and in the modern because
of frequent changes in the economy. However, according to my perspective, I do not think that
the research can be useful enough when used together with other research because every study
has its limiting factors, making it more challenging to develop a rational analysis and policy.
Therefore, the unreliability of every study on its own makes them incompatible when used
together. Any research data that is considered unreliable must only be useful if all factors are
fixed. For that reason, I agree with your discussion regarding the analysis of the given article
because time is a major factor when conducting studies.
Reference
Mosher, C. J., & Miethe, T. D. (2011). The mismeasure of Crime (2 ed.). Los Angeles: Sage
Publication, Inc.
LAW DISCUSSION RESPONSE 3
Response two
You have stated that the author noted the study's limitations, and the research can be used
as a starting point for other researchers to create accurate data about beggars' income, which I
fully agree with. I agree with you that the results would have been more accurate if every beggar
was studied (Adriaenssens & Hendrickx, 2011) and if gender equality was maintained during the
study because a high number of participants would increase the data accuracy. You have
addressed that it would not be wise to create a public policy with the research, which I think is
right. However, in my opinion, I disagree with you that researchers can use it to support future
beggars' income because the economy gets different every day, which means that future beggars'
payment will be different from the time in the research. I also think that making anonymous
reporting is intruding on the beggars' privacy. They may be homeless, but they have a right to
their privacy, even in the shelter homes.
Reference
Adriaenssens, S., & Hendrickx, J. (2011). Street-level Informal Economic Activities: Estimating
the Yield of Begging in Brussels. Urban Studies, 48(1), 23-40.
