1. NAB Review Dec 09

2. What are the advantages of conducting a pilot study? Helps to sharpen the focus of the study. Checks the feasibility. Improves the design of the survey. Avoids time and money being wasted on inadequately designed surveys. Questions tested to make sure they make sense to respondents. Helps to develop research skills of those taking part.

3. Advantages of using surveys as research method Surveys are cheap and quick to conduct compared to some other methods of research. Pre-coded, standardised questions make it possible to analyse surveys quickly and accurately on a computer. As questions are standardised, it is possible to identify patterns and make comparisons between different groups. If the sample is successful, it is possible to make general statements about the population as a whole, rather than just the group being studied.

4. Disadvantages of using surveys as research method If the sample is large, analysis might be time-consuming, producing results which are already out-of-date. Statistics give no indication of individual’s meanings. Premature closure of questions mean that people have not been able to express themselves fully; the answer that they wanted to give may not be there. It might be argued that no questions are truly standardised. People may attach a different meaning to the same question or interpret it in totally different ways. It is difficult to check whether people are answering honestly. If the sampling is less than random or if the response rate is low, the findings will be less reliable.

5. To what extent can valid and reliable conclusions be drawn…? Source is Times newspaper – political heavyweight; partisanship. Only England and Wales included. Decade of decline – source of these figures unclear. One third of school children … source unclear. However, BCS cited as source - reliable Figures were up to date – but time lag/effect of dating. Figures show trend over time.

6. What further information? Figures for Scotland/Northern Ireland. Could include successes or figures from amnesty. Other factors which might have affected crime rates. Comparisons with previous knife amnesties/attempts to control knife crime.