How do we know what we know in criminology and criminal justice? The relevance of qualitative methodologies

Abstract

Qualitative methods in criminology seek deep understanding of the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of criminal behavior and societal responses to crime. These methods are uniquely relevant and powerful in criminology thanks to their ability to discern nuances and complex interrelations often obscured by purely numerical data. Regardless of the rich potential insights they provide, however, the predominant methodological approach in criminology and criminal justice (CCJ) remains quantitative. This preference is far from based on extensive comparative studies; in fact, only few have examined the methodologies in the field from a comparative standpoint, let alone conducted a systematic analysis of the methods used in studies published in leading journals.

The current study addresses this gap by analyzing the methodologies most commonly used in CCJ studies published in its top-rated journals, as well as their geographical and cultural contexts. The main findings are that all top-rated journals are issued, produced, and published in the United States, that most studies published in leading CCJ journals have been conducted there, and that that in all, there is a clear preference for quantitative methods. This suggests a tendency to devalue qualitative methodology within CCJ, which, in turn, significantly affects our ability to understand individual behaviors, their motives and subjective meanings, and ways of addressing them. This state of affairs also has a potential impact on the methodological training of current and future criminologists in universities and colleges worldwide.