Publication Date

7-1975

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

James Grimm, R.L. Yokley, Edward Bohlander

Degree Program

Department of Sociology

Degree Type

Master of Arts

Abstract

A typology was developed to demonstrate the relationship between the diverse theoretical explanations prevalent in riotous behavior research and the mode of data collection utilized for studying these theoretical explanations. The two principal variables identified are conceptual areas and methodological techniques. Conceptual areas consist of five categories and these are defined as structure: underlying social. economic and political preconditions which lead to riotous behavior; belief-motives: underlying predispositions of individuals or groups which lead to riotous behavior; setting: immediate determinants (assemblage process. ecological arrangements and socio-demographic factors) which lead to riotous behavior; action-behavior: actual behavior patterns and general characteristics found in riotous behavior; and aftermath-consequences: an optional category used to define and understand the previous four categories by investigating the situation following riotous behavior. The methodological techniques of data collection are defined as documentary (historical and census materials) and nondocumentary (interviews, questionnaires, participant observation, informants and laboratory experimentation) materials. A content analysis of ten major sociological journals (Social Problems. Journal of Social Issues, American Sociological Review. Social Forces, Sociological Inquiry, American Journal of Sociology, Sociological Quarterly, Urban Affairs Quarterly, Sociometry and the Journal of Intergroup Relations) and twelve related journals and magazines (Science and Society, Trans-Action, Annals, American Behavioral Scientist, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Scientific American. Human Relations, Journal of Criminal Law: Criminology and Police Science, Commentary, Social Science Quarterly, Phylon, Public Opinion Quarterly) from 1940 through September, 1973 yielded eighty-seven articles which were considered to be a universe of content. The findings indicate that certain methodologies discriminate between certain conceptual areas and certain conceptual areas discriminate between certain methodological techniques. The most often used methods are historical documents, census materials and interviews in that order whereas the most researched conceptual areas are setting and belief-motives. There is a tendency to use interviews and questionnaires more often when only one conceptual area (usually belief-motives) is being researched. Participant observation and informants do not appear to be as limited as the other methods regarding their use to investigate diverse conceptual schemes; however, they are restricted as methodological techniques. The distance (in time) of the researcher from the event and the number of events studied affect the relationship between the two variables. Research conducted within a year following the riotous event relies more on nondocumentary data than does research conducted over a year following the event. Moreover, researchers tend to utilize nondocumentary data to a fuller degree than documentary despite the practical and logical limits of these methods and the far greater utilization of documentary data. There is evidence the segmentation of research and emphasis on psychological explanations may be changing as the more complex theoretical frameworks are being used and different explanations are being integrated in order to study the whole of riotous behavior. Riotous behavior research has emphasized the individual framework for far too long. Sociological inquiry into riotous behavior should stress group interactions, group processes, group activity and social forces for a fruitful analysis of riotous behavior.

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Psychology and Interaction | Sociology

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