Research Proposal – A Terror On Your Doorstep: Homegrown Terrorists
This
research proposal intended to establish a relationship between personal beliefs
and homegrown terrorism. Two theories have been provided to support and
understand the proposal’s topic. The present literature has a lacuna when it
comes to peer-reviewed and quantitative research studies. This proposal aims to
fill those gaps through a quantitative methodology. This methodology includes a
correlational research design and a questionnaire as a measurement instrument.
Our population is vulnerable due to their restrictive environment. Therefore,
since a vulnerability exists in our population, this proposal is focusing to
take the highest ethical level to prevent and minimize any harm. The data from
this population will be tabulated using inferential statistics through the SPSS
software. The limitations and threats to validity of this research proposal are
clear and the best course of action to minimize them has been considered.
Finally, this proposal has four different plan for its dissemination.
The United States of America and other countries around the world had suffered, at some point, some sort of terrorist attack. From the bombing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to the Frankfurt Airport shooting in Germany, terrorism has been the synonym of terror (Böckler, Hoffmann & Zick, 2015). However, on September 11, 2001, the United States witnessed one of the terrifying events in its history: a large scale, well planned and organized terrorist attack (Reyes, 2018). The reason for this is that the 9/11 was first terrorist attack streaming live in the United States. Watching, literally, people jumping off the window is a scar in everyone’s memory who watched while it happened. The perpetrator wasn’t U.S. citizens but after the 9/11 a new “trend” of terrorism emerged hitting the American soil with an unprecedented force (Kirchick, 2010 & Precht, 2007). This trend, this type of terrorism was a local, internal and a domestic one: United State awoke a rotten root, a disease called homegrown terrorism. This emerging threat means that terrorism is not solely from foreign groups or countries (Precht, 2007). In recent years, in the United States, “there has been unprecedented growth in violent activity inspired by radical” groups who are far more destructive because homegrown terrorists are citizens, born, raised and educated within their own country (Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010). What are the reasons, if any, of this growth? What changed? Why is the country having more and more homegrown terrorists? This research proposal intends to examine the problem of homegrown terrorists. The research will address the predisposition of personal beliefs for individuals who are born, raised and educated within the U.S., that engage in domestic terrorism (Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010 & Reyes, 2018).
The purpose of
this study are two. First, this study intends to shed some light on homegrown
terrorists by adding some “growth of knowledge” (Oliver, 2012) to the
literature/research already done in this topic by scholars. Second, this study
aim to establish, analyze and describe a relationship between homegrown
terrorists and personal beliefs (Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 46 & Hale,
2011).
This research
proposal have one research question and two hypotheses: one alternative
hypothesis and one null hypothesis. The research question for this proposal is
as follows: Is there a correlation between personal beliefs and the change of
behavior in an individual that leads to being a homegrown terrorist? (Reyes,
2018). The alternative hypothesis is that there is a positive correlation
between personal beliefs and the change of behavior in an individual that leads
to being a homegrown terrorist (Reyes, 2018). The null hypothesis is that there
is no correlation between personal beliefs and the change of behavior in an
individual that leads to being a homegrown terrorist (Reyes, 2018).
The theoretical
framework for this research proposal will be composed of a combination of two theories.
The first theory is a psychological theory called the Identity Theory from
Erik Erikson in 1959. This theory proposes a psychological development of an
individual through eight phases (Schwartz, Dunkel & Waterman, 2009; Sokol,
2009 & Victoroff, 2005). Every phase will come with a conflict, crucial
point or crisis that the individual must face and resolve in order to continue
the psychological development (Schwartz et al., 2009; Sokol, 2009 &
Victoroff, 2005). Erikson explained that every psychological phase or stage
will produce an outcome, whether is a positive or negative one, and the outcome
of previous stages will affect the other stages (Schwartz et al., 2009; Sokol,
2009 & Victoroff, 2005). In other words, failure in one of the stages will
mean an unhealthy psychological development. These stages are 1. Trust vs.
Mistrust, 2. Autonomy vs. Shame, 3. Initiative vs. Guilt, 4. Industry vs.
Inferiority, 5. Identity vs. Role Confusion, 6. Intimacy vs. Isolation, 7.
Generativity vs. Stagnation and 8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Sokol, 2009). For
Erikson, the most crucial, most important psychological stage was the fifth:
Identity vs. Role Confusion (Sokol, 2009). He understood that adolescence is a
“transitional period of development” where an individual goes from childhood to
adulthood, where an individual looks for a sense of self and participation in a
group (Sokol, 2009). In other words, adolescence is a bridge during an
individual’s growth. A bridge that is full of confusion and changes not only psychological
but physiological as well and social causes play an important role in an
individual’s life including the so-called phenomenon of peer-pressure (Matić,
Dremel & Šakić, 2015).
The second theory
is the Quest for Personal Significance Theory from Kruglanski
and colleagues (Dugas, Bélanger, Moyano, Schumpe, Kruglanski, Gelfand,
Touchton-Leonard & Nociti, 2016; Kruglanski & Orehek, 2011 &
Kruglanski & Fishman, 2009). This theory proposes that personal
significance is a fundamental factor and a “motivational force in human
behavior” (Kruglanski & Orehek, 2011 & Kruglanski & Fishman, 2009).
The theory explains that an individual is motivated and seek an attachment to
social groups by defending the group’s point of view/beliefs and by working
within that group (Kruglanski & Orehek, 2011). This theory also explains
that the personal significance is not due to lack of finances nor education
because it focuses on perceptions of injustices and some sort of deprivation
(Kruglanski & Orehek, 2011). Therefore, Kruglanski and colleagues (2016,
2011 & 2009) proposed that “most terrorist attacks is the quest for
personal significance”. In other words, the theory postulates that the quest
for personal significance is an ordinary goal, a desire, that an individual
endeavor, socially talking, to “make a difference” (Dugas et al., 2016)
For purposes of
this proposal, clarification and better understanding of the research
question’s concepts that will be used from now on, a definition of them will be
provided. These are the operational definitions of concepts that the researcher
will be using throughout the research to analyze and explain certain aspects of
the research’s topic. Personal beliefs are support and
acceptance of convictions held by an individual that he/she considers it to be
true and may prompt an individual to expresses it as a need or desire (Reyes,
2018; Matsick & Conley, 2016; Thompson, Lamont, Parncutt & Russo, 2014,
p. 128; Kruglanski & Orehek, 2011 & Vohs, Baumeister & Sage Publications,
2007, p. 110). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2018) defines behavior as
“the way in which someone conducts oneself”. For purposes of this study,
behavior will be used as the particular way in which an individual control
his/her actions that are socially and legally accepted (Reyes, 2018).
Therefore, a change of behavior is when an individual is
unable to control his/her behavior and actions in a social and legal manner.
A homegrown terrorist is an individual who is a citizen, born,
raised, educated and resides within the United States (and its territories) who
is willing to carry out terrorist attacks to/in his/her own country (including
its people and infrastructures) (Reyes, 2018; Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010 &
Precht, 2007).
Nowadays terrorism
looks like an old tale, old news, something of the past that no one cares to
talk about. The reasons for this are many and it will vary depending on what
country you’re in, what point of view you’re looking at and what political/ideological/beliefs
you have. Nevertheless, it is common knowledge that terrorism is a social and
complex problem affecting countries, regardless of their politics,
socioeconomic and religious statuses, around the world (Horgan, 2017; Schwartz, Dunkel & Waterman, 2009 &
Schbley, 2003). Despite the knowledge of its existence, the world has not come
with a definite and concrete definition about terrorism or at least a mutual
agreement of what terrorism is (Jackson, 2009 & Kruglanski & Fishman,
2009). This can result very problematic because there’s no way to approach,
resolve or at least minimize this social problem. Even though defining
terrorism is not easy task, there shouldn’t be over one hundred almost two
hundred definitions of terrorism in the literature (Jackson, 2009). For
purposes of this research proposal and for the sake of clarification, two
different definitions of terrorism will be provided. However, only one will be
used and the reasons for it will be explained. The first definition is from the
Federal Bureau of Investigations [FBI] (2010), under the U.S. Code of Federal
Regulations (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85). According to the FBI (2010), terrorism is
“the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to
intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment
thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”. The second
definition is from a study that was focusing on definitions for terrorism but
the focus of the study shifted to have a better understanding of a religious
terrorist (Reyes, 2018 & Schbley, 2003). The definition that Schbley (2003)
finally gave to terrorism is that “terrorism is any violent act upon
symbolic civilians and their properties”. From the perspective of both
definitions, we can agree that terrorism uses violence, persons, and their
properties. However, the definition that will be using from now on is the
second one. The second definition is short, simple and easy to understand. What
makes a country is its people, therefore violence against the people and their
properties, regardless of the means and methods, cannot be justified or
tolerated and it is considered terrorism (Schbley, 2003). Now, the definition
of domestic terrorism will be any violent act against civilians and their
property by an individual who was born, raised and educated in that country
(Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010).
It is true that
there are many studies on terrorism, especially studies that try to establish a
definition of terrorism. However, most of these studies focus on terrorism in
general, many of them are not peer-reviewed and do not abound on the threat of
domestic terrorism. To this, it is added the rarity of peer-reviewed studies
with the sole focus of domestic terrorism (Jackson, 2009). Nevertheless, these
studies are qualitative. In other words, they study an individual or a certain
phenomenon for being peculiar or strange without providing data that can be
quantified. Most of the literature about homegrown terrorists we came across
are case studies of a specific individual who, for whatever reason, decided to
engage in terrorism. For these reasons, this proposal aimed to add knowledge in
a quantitative manner. The few peer-reviewed studies, whether quantitative or
qualitative, had a pattern in some aspect of terrorism and domestic terrorism.
First, the articles agreed in a rise and emerging new threat of homegrown
terrorists (Scarcella, Page, & Furtado, 2016; Klausen, Campion, Needle,
Nguyen & Libretti, 2015; Olsson, 2015; Kirchick, 2010; Wilner & Dubouloz,
2010 & Dernevik, Beck, Grann, Hogue & Mcguire, 2009). Second, the
articles talked, defined and explained radicalization as the process of
behavioral changes (atypical behavior) in an individual’s psyche due to
politics or ideology (Gill, Corner, Conway,
Thornton, Bloom, & Horgan, 2017; Scarcella et al., 2016; Klausen et al.,
2015; Olsson, 2015; Kirchick, 2010; Wilner & Dubouloz, 2010; Dernevik et
al., 2009 & Victoroff, 2005). Researchers found that this process
is usually done through the Internet (Gill et al., 2017; Scarcella et al.,
2016; Klausen et al., 2015; Olsson, 2015; Kirchick, 2010; Wilner &
Dubouloz, 2010; Dernevik et al., 2009 & Victoroff, 2005). Third, the
studies found a background pattern in a homegrown terrorist: they are educated,
the are from respected families or middles class family, they don’t exhibit
economic hardships, previous behavior wasn’t associated with violence, most of
them are males and they are from different ethnic, race, cultural, religious
and regional backgrounds (Scarcella et al., 2016; Klausen et al., 2015;
Kirchick, 2010; Kis-Katos, Liebert & Schulz, 2011; Wilner & Dubouloz,
2010; Dernevik et al., 2009 & Victoroff, 2005).
Another point that
was discussed in the literature, and that has been the focus of debate, has
been the psychology of terrorism. From a psychological point of view, some of
the studies reviewed argued that terrorism is caused by some mental disorder.
In other words, a terrorist, whether is international or domestic (homegrown),
commits terrorist acts because he/she suffers from some personality disorder,
schizophrenia or psychopathy and thus the process of radicalization is a given
(Borum, Fein & Vossekuil, 2012; Kruglanski &
Fishman, 2009 & Victoroff, 2005). Other researchers gave
themselves the task of refuting these studies. Especially Sageman (2004, p.
83), whose study was later published as a book, found in his sample of 172
individuals from an Al Qaeda network that mental illness is not an explanation
for terrorism nor a pattern of mental illness was detected. He also thought of
the possibility of a childhood trauma from the psychoanalytic theory
perspective, however, the indicator was too little to none trauma in their
lives (Sageman, 2004, p. 85). In other words, not only Sageman (2004), but other
researchers found that there is no empirical evidence to support a
psychological profile for terrorists, a terrorist personality nor a theory that
terrorism is the result of a mental illness (Klausen et al., 2015; Dernevik et
al., 2009; Jackson, 2009 & Schwartz et al., 2009).
Despite that the
literature had given similarities there are weaknesses to these studies. First,
these studies cannot come to an agreement on how long the radicalization
process take (Jackson, 2009). Some of them say months, others years. Second,
only two studies reported the lack and the need of assessment tools to, at
least, identify behaviors of homegrown terrorists (Scarcella et al., 2016 &
Klausen et al., 2015). That same study reported the lack of demographics and
how they can differ depending on the individual (Klausen et al., 2015).
Therefore, there is a lacuna in research when it comes to female terrorists,
whether they are homegrown female terrorists or not (Jacques & Taylor,
2013). Most of these studies sampled males, leaving out the possibility that a
female may have another reason to radicalized, diverse factors or other
life-situations to lead her to terrorism like personal beliefs (Klausen et al.,
2015 & Jacques & Taylor, 2013). Hence,
this gap is another reason for this paper by establishing a relationship
between homegrown terrorists and personal beliefs regardless of gender. Just
because an individual is a female does not mean that the possibility to engage
in act of terrorism does not exist. The literature failed to agree and provide
a solid definition of terrorism (Jackson, 2009). Another gap found was the lack
of human contact. The lack of face-to-face sampling techniques. Including the
case studies, the sample of these studies was of second hands. That is, the information
obtained was from second sources, other studies, databases or library archives
(Jackson, 2009). The bigger weakness we came across with the literature in both
terrorism and homegrown terrorist is the profile of Islamic terrorists
(Jackson, 2009). Almost every peer-reviewed article that was reviewed for this
research proposal pointed out, in different words, the same factor: our
terrorists and homegrown terrorist are Islamic terrorists (Jackson, 2009).
Which contradicts the previous analysis of the background pattern of homegrown
terrorists. It is true that the corrections were made after conclusions were
drawn, however, this academical construct has put an onerous suspicion and has
poisoned the Muslim community by increasing maltreatment, discrimination, hate
crimes and phobias (Jackson, 2009).
In conclusion, the
literature provided that terrorism is diverse. In a short time, homegrown
terrorists had been seen with frequency after 9/11 (Muhlhausen & Baker
McNeill, 2011). This evolving threat is complex yet attractive to some people
(Horgan, 2017 & Klausen et al., 2015). Even though homegrown terrorism has
been studied in different academic disciplines, the literature still shows the
lack of peer-review studies and the lack of quantitative data (Horgan, 2017
& Jackson, 2009). “The events of September 11, 2001, were a major catalyst
for the study of terrorism” yet there is still a lacuna when it comes to
assessment tools (Horgan, 2017). The literature also revealed that the samples
for this studies, with the exception of Sageman’s book, there is not concrete
human contact. Furthermore, the gap between females terrorist opens up new
doors, opportunities, and possibilities for new research. Therefore, the
necessity of this study lies in the purpose of it: adding knowledge and
establishing a relationship between homegrown terrorists and their personal
beliefs with quantitative data.
Planning a
research is not easy task. Let alone when the researcher must choose what type
of methodology is the best fit for the research. Every step of the research
should be done carefully especially when it comes to the methodology section.
How to gather your data, what instrument is needed and what tool must be used
to analyze your data is part of the consideration a researcher must take in
order to answer the research problem/question (Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p.
80). Quantitative, qualitative and a mixed-method approach are different,
uniques and certainly their purposes and the type of data differ greatly (Leedy
& Ormrod, 2016, p. 80). Through either one, you will collect one or both
types of data numerical (statistics) or nonnumerical (observations) (Leedy
& Ormrod, 2016, p. 80). With that being said, and taking into account the
lack of quantitative studies found during the literature review, this proposal
will be using a quantitative methodology. Another reason for this methodology
is that quantitative research deducts, seeks to explain, predicts, generalized
and establish relationships between variables through statistics to prove, test
and verify hypotheses and theories (Reyes, 2018; Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p.
80 & Ponterotto, 2002). Furthermore, the research question and both
alternative and null hypothesis are trying to establish a correlation between
variables. Because we’re looking to get numerical data to see if there’s any
correlation at all, a quantitative design would be our best approach (Reyes, 2018).
Since the
methodology is quantitative, a research design is quantitative as well. Like it
was mentioned before, this proposal is trying to establish a correlation. The
best research design for this is from one of the non-experimental descriptive
research designs: a correlational research design (Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p.
137 & Lavrakas, 2008). The correlational design facilitates the withdrawing
of conclusions about the actual status of a problem, situation or issue but
must not be confused with cause-and-effect (Reyes, 2018; Leedy & Ormrod,
2016, p. 367; Bleske-Rechek, Morrison & Heidtke, 2015, p.49 & American
Psychological Association [APA], 2013). In other words, “correlation does not
imply causation” (Reyes, 2018 & Bleske-Rechek, et al., 2015, p. 49).
A correlational
research investigate, measure and analyze the degree in which differences and
similarities exists or are related to one or more variables (Reyes, 2018; Leedy
& Ormrod, 2016, p. 137 & Lavrakas, 2008). Explore the possibility of
relations or associations between variables. This design establish a
correlation if a variable increases or decreases another variable regardless if
is a positive or negative result (Reyes, 2018; Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p.
137). This type of method allows the researcher to collect “quantitative data
about two or more characteristics” of a distinct group (Reyes, 2018; Leedy
& Ormrod, 2016, p. 137).
This proposal will
be working with a vulnerable population. This population are prisoners for
which special consideration must be taken due to their “restrictive,
institutional environment” (Office of the Human Research Protection Program
[OHRPP], 2012). These special considerations will be discussed in the procedure
section of this proposal. The inclusion characteristics for the sample of this
population are:
The exclusion
characteristics for the sample of this population are:
No race,
ethnicity, religion, cultural background, political views, disability (mental
or physical), employment and marital status would be used as a criteria for
inclusion nor exclusion of the sample (Reyes, 2018). In the fiscal year of
2016, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reported 21,507 inmates whose
sentences are for the offenses of Assault/Terroristic Threat (Reyes, 2018).
From this 21,507; 744 are inmates in SAFP which are excluded (Reyes, 2018). The
remaining individuals are 20,763. This research proposal was hoping to have a
sample of 500 individuals, however, this won’t be the case. Per the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice, as of January 31, 2018, there is only 25
prisoners whose sentences are terroristic threats or terrorism-related
offenses. For now, the sample size for this proposal is 25 individuals.
The measurement
instrument that will be used in this proposal to collect the raw data is a
questionnaire (Reyes, 2018). Questionnaires, whether they are paper and pencil
or online (in a computer) are cost-effective (Reyes, 2018; Leedy & Ormrod,
2016, p. 141 & Abbott, & McKinney, 2013, p. 210). This instrument is
excellent for larger populations and for far away populations because saves
additional and unnecessary expenses to the researcher because can easily gather
the data while addressing and meeting the requirements of the research (Reyes,
2018; Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 141 & Abbott, & McKinney, 2013, p.
210). One questionnaire will be provided, integrating the variables and divided
by sections (Reyes, 2018). The questionnaire will be designed by the researcher
and will be scrutinized by a colleague with the expertise of survey research.
The researcher will look into the questions of the questionnaire to make sure
no biases or prejudices are being asked.
Special
considerations are needed when it comes to prisoners (OHRPP, 2012). Since this
is a vulnerable population, the special considerations call for a special
approval under the federal government and is also reviewed by the Institutional
Review Board [IRB] (OHRPP, 2012). This federal regulation is the 45
CFR 46.305(a) which requires the following seven things:
Additional
approvals from the Federal Bureau of Prisons will be taken into consideration
as well, especially if the IRB or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice so
requires it. After getting all the approvals, the recruitment process for the
sample would be trough recruitment letters, referrals (from other participants
and/or prison/jail staff) and flyers, notices or information sheets (OHRPP,
2012). A paper and pencil self-questionnaire would be administered to anyone
who wants to participate. The questionnaire would be given in a
classroom-setting type inside the prison/state jail. The specific time-frame
for the questionnaire (what time is going to be?) will be determined in
conjunction with the prison/state jail’s Warden. The researcher has taken into
consideration that, even though this population lives in a restricted
environment, they still have a schedule, routine or itinerary to follow. The
time for the self-administered questionnaire would be one that better fits the
sample’s routine. After the questionnaire is completed, the participants will
put it in a locked box near the exit. When their participation is completely done,
the participants will return to their daily routine.
The data analysis
tool for this proposal are parametric and nonparametric inferential statistical
processes to analyze the data. The parametric statistics will be the student’s
t-test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), t-test, regression and factor analysis
(Gill et al., 2017 & Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 241). These statistical
tests are the best fit because establishes a “statistically significant
difference” between means, reduces the possibility of a Type II error,
establishes a correlation, make possible to predict the value of a dependent
variable from an independent variable without indicating cause-and-effect,
examine the correlation between variables and determine the proximity of
frequencies (Reyes, 2018 & Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 241). The only
nonparametric statistic that will be used is the chi-square (Gill, et al., 2017
& Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 241). Furthermore, these statistical tools
will test the hypotheses (Reyes, 2018 & Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 241).
The software that will be used in this proposal is the Statistical Package for
the Social Sciences (SPSS) because is the only software the researcher has
access to and the only one the researcher knows and understand better.
Like any other
research proposal, there are limitations and threats to validity. One
limitation and is also a threat to validity (selection of the subjects) is the
size of the sample. At first, it looked like there were too many subjects to
participate. However, the number got drastically reduced. From thousands
(literally) now I only have 25. To this be must add that not all 25 individuals
are going to participate. Another threat to validity would be the Hawthorne
effect, instrumentation and the experimental validity (Leedy & Ormrod,
2016, p. 85 & Argosy, 2013). I must take into consideration that my
population, because of their environment, their responses, actions, and
behaviors might change at any given moment (Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 169
& Argosy, 2013). Since the instrumentation is a questionnaire designed by
the researcher the possibility of bias is higher.
The best course of action to minimize these threats would be eliminating, as much as possible, bias in the questionnaire by carefully scrutinize the questions (Reyes, 2018). The recruitment strategy should be design to avoid subjects to participate for convenience, non-voluntarily and/or lateness (latecomers) (Reyes, 2018). Another strategy to avoid these threats to validity is to emphasize the benefits of the study to avoid the loss of participants and provide a statement to all subjects about, whether they are being observed or not, their responses, actions and behaviors should not change at any given moment (Reyes, 2018; Leedy & Ormrod, 2016, p. 169 & Argosy, 2013).
Ethics in research
is not only about presenting the real data, conclusions, and results. Ethics in
research is also the protection of your human subjects. Is the research’s duty
to protect his participants from any harm before, during and after the research
begins and finishes (Reyes, 2018). In order to protect the participants and the
researcher as well, an informed consent must be given. Is not only a requirement
of the IRB but is also the ethical and legal responsibility of the researcher
(Nijhawan, Janodia, Muddukrishna, Bhat, Bairy, Udupa & Musmade, 2013). The
informed consent for this investigation will be in writing (paper inform
consent), it will be explained in detail to the participants, the participants
will have enough time to read it by themselves and there would be an open forum
to discuss any question, doubts or concern about the informed consent and the
study before any of the participants signs the document. The informed consent
of this proposal will cover the following:
To ensure the safety of all participants from a potential risk or harm, the researcher will prevent or at least minimize it by providing detailed information about the study protocols and procedures, assembling a research team with the knowledge, experience and expertise in the population studied as well how to conduct research (Reyes, 2018). Another way to ensure their safety is incorporating a “data safety monitoring plan” (UNM Office of the Institutional Review Board, 2016) with an expert team who can safeguard the data and respond to emergencies in case of a breach of confidentiality or data leakegage (this will also limit the access of people to the data), storing data in a safe and locked place and/or encrypting, giving passwords/codes to digital data, databases and/or computers/electronic devices, obtainig certificates of confidentiality (CoC) for a vulnerable population, ensuring the sample is adequate to generate useful results and provide on-site behavioral/psychlogical/emotional support to the participatns trhough counselors, psychologists and/or psychiatrists during and after the questionnaire (Reyes, 2018 & UNM Office of the Institutional Review Board, 2016).
To maintain the
highest ethical standard, the researcher will emphasize, before beginning the
questionnaire, that their participation is completely voluntary and that they
are free to go whenever they want to without any penalties. Lastly, the
researcher will be disclaimed that the participation in this study won’t change
nor affect the parole board’s decision in any of their sentences (OHRPP, 2012).
This research
proposal is planning to use different dissemination strategies. The reason for
this is to have a backup plan in case the main strategy or other strategies
fail. First, the researcher will try to disseminate this proposal through
peer-reviewed journals by a press release (this will be the main strategy since
the lack of peer-reviewed studies in this topic) (Yale Center for
Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), 2009). Second dissemination strategy
is a research summary document of this study with the key findings and a fact
sheet (Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), 2009). The
third dissemination strategy is a media coverage through, either one or all of
them, local news, local newspaper or local radio stations (Yale Center for
Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), 2009). The fourth dissemination
strategy, and is a combination of two, it will be hosting or attending
seminars, local events (including Argosy University) or conferences with
flyers, brochures, poster and/or research briefs (Yale Center for
Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), 2009). Every single dissemination
strategy will include a letter of appreciation to the participants. This letter
will be sent to the participants as well with any finding of the study (Yale Center
for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA), 2009).
This proposal
aimed the problem of homegrown terrorists. The literature review emphasizes the
purpose of this study: addition to the knowledge in the topic with quantitative
data by establishing a relationship with personal beliefs and homegrown
terrorism. Also, this proposal brought up the lacuna of female terrorists in
the present literature and the lack of face-to-face participants. Furthermore,
this proposal found the weakness of the present literature towards the Muslim
community. The academic literature points out to this community like the bad
people in our country; putting them at higher and unnecessary risk. The
population of this proposal is vulnerable and every ethical step has been taking
into consideration to protect and/or minimize any possible harm, threat or
ethical issue to the participants. The data of this proposal is quantitative
with a correlational design and a self-administered questionnaire. In order to
analyze this quantitative data, inferential statistic (parametric and
nonparametric statistics) will be used to test the hypotheses and to answer the
research question. However, limitations and threat to validity exist. The two
limitations/threat to validity that the researcher is more concerned about are
the sample size (is too small) and the Hawthorne effect (change in behavior due
to the knowledge of being observed). Nonetheless, precautions have been planned
to avoid or at least minimize these. Lastly, the researcher has four different
dissemination strategies to choose in case, for whatever reason, the previous
one fails. Is just a precaution, a backup plan for this proposal.
Abbott, M. L., & McKinney, J. (2013). Understanding and Applying Research Design [eBook Index]. Retrieved February 20, 2018, from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.libproxy.edmc.edu
American Psychological
Association (APA)O. (2013). APA
guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major, Version 2.0. Washington,
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