Data Collection Methods
A qualitative research method will be used to study the effects of body‐worn cameras on improving public trust in law enforcement. In qualitative research, ideas, opinions, or experiences are investigated by collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (Liamputtong, 2020). It can be applied to provide fresh research ideas or obtain an in-depth understanding of an issue. For the current research, interviews will be collected with members of the public.
The proposed number of respondents is three hundred. They will be provided questionnaires to fill out the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement. Besides, fifteen key informants will be interviewed to offer in-depth insights into the topic of study. The key informants will be drawn from the leadership of police officers heading police divisions in the study areas. Equally, community leaders will be involved in the study to offer their perspectives on the topic of study. On the other hand, three hundred study area residents will be recruited. A questionnaire will be administered to explore their views on the effects of body‐worn cameras on improving public trust in law enforcement.
Leaders in community policing, chiefs of police divisions, and important informants will all be interviewed in order to get information. Semi-structured, unstructured, and structured interviews are the three basic types of interviews (Amri et al., 2021). A researcher will pose pre-planned questions to a responder in a set sequence during a structured interview. The interviewer uses a scoring system to score the respondents after compiling the responses from the respondents. Furthermore, using a pre-planned list of open-ended questions, the researcher might delve into certain themes or replies during a semi-structured interview, which is a qualitative research approach. An unstructured interview is a method of data collection on a topic that entails asking people questions. Unstructured interviews, also known as non-directive interviewing, need prepared questions and a set framework. For social science and humanities studies that focus on individual experiences, unstructured interviews are often qualitative and important data sources (Amri et al., 2021). It’s a useful way to carry out exploratory study. They may inspire interesting responses from the respondents and are renowned for being very adaptable and casual.
The current research has benefited greatly from the use of interviews. The techniques will make it possible for the study to gather extensive and thorough data about the impacts of body-worn cameras and how they contribute to increased public confidence in law enforcement. The researcher may ask respondents in-depth questions while gathering data via interviews. Additionally, the researcher will have the opportunity to ask questions in order to gain more detailed information on the impacts of body-worn cameras and how they contribute to the public’s increased trust in law enforcement. The capacity to elicit detailed information and a thorough comprehension of the research subject at hand will allow the researcher to ask follow-up questions of the respondents. According to Jain (2021), the interviews assist the researcher in formulating questions and getting explanations from the respondents in areas where they are in need of more substantial insights. Therefore, it is a well-considered decision that should deepen our comprehension of the topic at hand that the interview was chosen as the technique of data collection for the research of the impacts of body-worn cameras and their contribution to increasing public confidence in law enforcement.
Additionally, the interview method will allow the researcher to establish rapport with the respondents as they will get a chance to work and collaborate to find adequate responses to the topic. Amri et al. (2021) observed that interviews enable the researcher to study sensitive topics such as security and crime since there is a one-on-one engagement with the respondents. To this end, the study will immensely benefit from the application of interviews to seek answers on the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement.
Even the potential benefits of interview methods in researching the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement. There are some limitations associated with the process. Interviews will be time-consuming as the researcher must physically move to the respondents’ locations. Ali et al. (2019) noted that scheduling interviews could take much time as the respondents’ availability to participate in the interview process plays a role. The researcher will be cognizant of the fact that interviews are time-consuming. They will endeavor to carry out the interview process alongside questionnaires to maximize time and avoid a scenario of the data collection process coming to a stop as they wait for the responses from the respondents to confirm their availability for the interview.
On the other hand, questionnaires will be administered to the members of the public residing in the study area to examine their views of the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement. Interviews are beneficial in various ways. The method will allow the researcher to obtain unique and original data from the respondents, adding insights into the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement. Solans-Domènech et al. (2019) pointed out that questionnaires allow the researcher to obtain original data from various audiences, enriching the research process. Therefore, the researcher will use the questionnaire to reach a more significant number of the respondents to the interview, which will only target key informants to offer their thoughts on the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement. Moreover, a questionnaire is cost-effective, so the researcher intends to enlist many respondents to participate in the study.
The proposed number of respondents is three hundred, who will be provided with the questionnaires to find out the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement. Besides, fifteen key informants will be interviewed to offer in-depth insights into the topic of study.
Sampling Technique
Simple random sampling will be used to recruit participants in the study. Simple random sampling involves the researcher choosing a subset of participants randomly from a population. Every person in the population is equally likely to be chosen. In the proposed research, participants will be selected from the study area to participate in the study. Mahmud et al. (2020) argued that the benefit of random sampling is that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected to participate in the study. Therefore, every resident of the study area will have an equal chance of being selected to participate in the study exploring the effects of body‐worn cameras on improving public trust in law enforcement.
Inclusion Criteria
The inclusion criteria of the samples will be residents over 18 years old. Furthermore, they will be expected to have stayed in the study area for at least a year. This will ensure that respondents have adequate knowledge of the effects of body‐worn cameras on improving public trust in law enforcement.
Benefits of Simple Random Sampling in the Study of Effects of Body‐Worn Cameras on Improving Public Trust in Law Enforcement
Simple random sampling is an inexpensive method of sampling. The researcher will spend less time deciding which samples to use. Unlike other complex sampling techniques, simple random sampling ensures that the researcher only selects readily available samples and meets the inclusion criteria (Rahman et al., 2022). The chances of the researcher traveling to other different areas are reduced, which goes along with reducing the research cost.
While using simple random sampling research on the effects of body‐worn cameras on improving public trust in law enforcement, one of the notable benefits is that the researcher does not need knowledge about the entire population to allow them to do a good job. The argument is that every member of the population will have an equal chance of being selected to participate in the study (Rahman et al., 2022). Therefore, the researcher will be able to randomly settle on the people residing in the study area to examine their experience and perception of the Body Worn Camera on improving public trust in law enforcement.
Equally, simple random sampling will be beneficial for the study as it will ensure the representativeness of the population; unlike other methods of sampling, such as purposive, where specific characteristics of the samples are required, simple random sampling will ensure that the sample is representative and meets the requirements set for the study (Noor et al., 2022). Indeed, every member of the population will have equal chances of providing the desired responses to answer the research questions and objectives. The randomly selected samples for the research at hand would help reduce biases as similar responses generated from the samples are expected to be the same if any participant were to be recruited.
Moreover, applying simple random sampling research on the effects of body‐worn cameras on improving public trust in law enforcement will enable the researcher to make statistical inferences as the findings from any particular sample will be generalized to reflect the entire population. Noor et al. (2022) observed that simple random sampling is a sure way of addressing the question of biasness in research. The method is unbiased, and the findings can be relied upon to generalize the entire population. The method is impartial and will allow the researcher to make conclusions about the research and offer unbiased policy recommendations on body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement.
Similarly, and as the name suggests, simple random samples are less complicated and can be used by any researcher, including the less experienced researchers. This ensures that anyone with working knowledge can research using simple random sampling. No complex procedures are required of the researcher to undertake research using the sample method (Noor et al., 2022). Therefore, the method can be used to solve societal problems. In light of the foregoing, the present study will employ the method to establish the place of body-worn cameras to improve public trust in law enforcement.
Barriers to Random Sampling to the Study
While the proposed sampling method for the study of the effects of body-worn cameras and their contribution to improving public trust in law enforcement is effective and has the potential for the study’s success, there are limitations that the research must be cautious about. More than simple random sampling is needed where the population is large. The research must be cognizant of the limitation and ensure that many samples are randomly selected for a reliable sample to be realized (Keith et al., 2023). The data collected may be representative of only some of the population. As such, the data collected through interviews should be complemented with other methods, such as questionnaires. While the interview will offer adequate insights into the topic at hand, more significant results will be used if it is used along with other methods of data collection. Therefore, the researcher proposes to employ interviews with the key players in the police service, which include the heads of the police service at the divisional level.
Policy Implications of the Study
The study intends to develop recommendations that will guide the use of body-worn cameras by the police. Body-worn cameras have been proven to enhance accountability and transparency when the police are dealing with members of the public.
The study aims to develop recommendations that will guide policies on the access of body-worn camera footage by members of the public.
Conclusion
Body-worn cameras stand to benefit the police and community members whom they serve. BWC has the potential to reduce the misconduct of police officers since their conduct is under scrutiny, given that the cameras they wear keep track of their actions. With the monitored conduct of the police officers, there is accountability and enhanced transparency, which can improve the public’s confidence in the police. The transparency and accountability of the police conduct have the benefit of working towards improving public trust in law enforcement.
References
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