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Introduction

Good introduction argues that serial killing epidemic among male adolescents has been effectively addressed throughout the globe. Yet, research investigating the causes of serial killing among male adolescents has been inadequate. Therefore, the rationale of conducting this study is to determine the sole causes of serial killing, either biological or sociological among the youth while investigating the factors that influence them to kill. This chapter has covered relevant topics on how datum for the research was collected, the setting and materials used, measurement instruments and how the data was analyzed. It is important to note that the measurement instruments were designed by the author to investigate the causes of serial killing among male adolescents using literature review as the construct.

Settings

Participants

A quantitative and empirical model was applied to determine whether serial killing witnessed among male teens was influenced by biological or sociological experiences during their childhood. The participants involved in the investigation were comprised of 10 male teenagers drawn from Palm Beach Youth Academy and a few who were retained in Dade Juvenile Detention Center. All the teens that were present at the juvenile center were eligible to take part in the study. Specifically, the study included 6 males from the juvenile center while the remaining group focused on those that were in police custody, making the total number 10 (N=10) that met the requirements of the study to acquire statistically relevant results.

These participants were provided with survey instruments in their cells and from the conference room for those at the juvenile center and were given amble time to complete the evaluation exercise. However, of the 6 participant present at the juvenile center, 2 of them were randomly picked, with additional instructions that anyone who had completed the survey was not supposed to take part in the survey exercise twice. Cohen’s Size Categories formula was used to calculate the sample size to enable the researcher approximate a relevant sample size. Participation was however deliberate and any candidate would opt out of the survey if they so wished.

Materials

A lot of effort was employed by the author, who dedicated most of her time reviewing previous academic research on serial killing, going through journals and periodicals on causes of serial killing, bibliography books and from publications to conclude that serial killing was associated with childhood upbringing circumstances in which the identified participants went through, sexual abuse as an example that led to development of biological problems such as mental disorder which was found to be one of the killing motivators. Comment by Debbie Jennings: This is only one sentence which should not stand alone; however, this section itemizes your sources of material. I am not clear on what data was collected form this source?

Measurement Instruments

The researcher designed a thirty question and individual administered survey tool that was used to gather datum from the correspondents’ linking either biological or sociological effects being responsible for their psychopathic status of mind. The measurement instrument was drawn from the information in Literature review. A 5 point Likert scale was applied on the first twenty-five questions of the survey where the correspondents were required to choose a response ranging from 1 to 5 whereby 1 was meant to “Agree Strongly” and indicating the highest level of disagreement “Strongly Disagree”. The scale however shifted from a positive to a negative response with alternatives 2 to 4 representing values of Agree, Disinterested and Not Agree, correspondingly. Questions seeking to know the related biological and sociological impact on serial killing we equally spread all through the measurement instrument, with the last five questions pertained to demographics information. Some of the datum in these five questions included race, method of killing, age, gender of the victim, and the killing motivator with the participant having to choose from the provided answers. Comment by Debbie Jennings: Did you actually do this? Where is the Appendix and the materials? I will need to see these Comment by Debbie Jennings: data Comment by Debbie Jennings: respondents?

The measurement instrument and the required forms were presented to The University of Phoenix for assessment and authorization. The researcher was able to obtain approval letters from the professor, the police station and the juvenile center to comply with the school research guidelines. A sample of the measurement instruments will be located in the Appendix section.

Procedure

The author received authorization from the Chief of Police at the Dade Juvenile Detention Center, the head of the juvenile center and one from the professor. The Institutional Review Board gave the researcher a letter approving the study and measurement instruments. These instruments were distributed to the institutions during morning briefings where the survey was implanted immediately after the briefings were over. Comment by Debbie Jennings: Do you have the consent document?

The instrument however included a disclaimer that participant involvement was completely voluntary, and that the correspondents could withdraw from the survey without any consequence. It furthermore highlighted that the personal information and responses of the participants was kept confidential. The measurement instrument was available for the participants to complete after the research begun.

Data Analysis

To code and evaluate information obtained the SPSS software was used. The survey questions that were calculated on a Likert Scale and those seeking answers on serial killing demographics were as well coded to echo their corresponding values. The responses were filed in SPSS by way of generating frequencies with regard to the number of attempts for each variable. The researcher used one sample statistics as the tool for analysis. The findings from the measurement instrument were represented in tables and figures.