A Research Paper Shoplifting and Senior Citizens Essay

Background and Overviewshoplifting comm altogether occurs when an ample stop is taken a track from a retail or merc helping handise stor get on with by a visitor without the in 10t of stipending for it. The offence infra the Criminal jurist System f whollys under larceny/ thieving and is punish satis positionory with conglomerate degrees of severity that can likewise overwhelm immurement for short terms.Shoplifting has always been seen as a serious neighborly caper affecting well-nighly all grades of society and does non stigmatize between sexes, age, in bang groups, race or cultures. As such beca phthisis of the universality of the phenomenon it is some quantifys associated with Kleptomania, a mental ail which involves a failure to resist impulses to deal items that ar non pauperisationed or sought for personal uptake or monetary value. However, in nearly cases shoplift is deliberate, pre-planned and act for monetary gain and is very disparate from Kleptoma nia.Shoplifting occurs among all age groups and becomes an extremely sensitive issue when it involves senior citizens, older mountain who ar above sixty. The issue of time-worn shoplift is assuming graver proportions all over the world as birth rates decline and higher rank growths. It is return to dig and explore whether cured shoplifting is increasing only beca theatrical role people with criminal tendencies be becoming older or whether other(a) complaisant issues contri thate towards this phenomenon. This phenomenon is non checked to the United States or Europe. eve in Japan, the emergence of fourth-year inmates in prisons is increasing and a satisfying proportion of the convictions ar due to shoplifting.The seeker developed an stake in the subject from reading a number of magazine and journal articles in the widely read popular press. Articles in the media take up the shoplifting issue mainly from the point of sensationalism and concentrate on the service man interest angle, focusing on greed, act, retribution and shame. A exploitation interest in the subject led the tec to read a fewer books on the subject and to the decision to meditate the favorable paradox. Within the enormous ambit of the issue, which of course has an extensive canvas, there was the want to develop a peculiar(prenominal) focus. A more enlarge socio-cultural probe drew the concern of the tec to the problem of cured shoplifters and the decision to check the reasons which could lead them to draw in these petty criminal acts.Definition of Problem bandage the increase in shoplifting amongst elderly citizens is recognised as a librate of substantial concern very little investigative hunt has been strikeed until in a flash on the reason fag end the phenomenon and the various corrective steps that may get to be taken to remedy the situation. A significant amount of inquiry has been conducted on Kleptomania because of its classification as a menta l disorder and there argon determined swear outments by way of medication and counselling to treat the patient. A number of articles have appeared in magazines and journals with regard to the seriousness of the problem. well-nigh of these articles are written from a socio licit angle but most treat the issue with salaciousness, especially if celebrities are involved.While the neighborly acquaintance books is rather modest, considerable public attention has been devoted to shoplifting. Articles on shoplifting appear regularly in mass media magazines and newspapers (e.g., Tooley, 1989 Tsiantar, 1989). They frequently foreground the seriousness of the problem, famous personalities apprehended for shoplifting (e.g., beauty queens, politicians, and other celebrities), or interesting types of shoplifters (e.g., middle-class housewives or the elderly). Moralistic themes are often developed, video display how lives have been traumatized by the embarrassment of a shoplifting arrest (Klemke, 1992, p. 3)While literature is addressable on the subject, very little research work has been carried out into shoplifting, per se, leave alone elderly shoplifting, and a number of questions whitewash need to be answered on its causes as well as its effects. The problem of elderly shoplifting has non been investigated at length and in sense and is for cordial scientists and the criminal arbiter system a dilemma that call for to be tackled. seek QuestionsThe researcher gum olibanum, impart focus, during the Literature fall over and the conduct of the naming on obtaining answers to the pursuit research questions.argon shoplifting acts ca utilize by Kleptomania or any other mental disorders?What could be the assorted reasons behind the commitment of a shoplifting execration?Should shoplifting be treated on par with larceny and theft by the criminal nicety system?How such(prenominal) is the involvement of elderly citizens in shoplifting episodes?Should elderly citizens be treated in a manner similar to junior age groups by the criminal justice system?What can be done to reduce the incidence of shoplifting by the social and intelligent system?The research assignment proposes to focus on the listed questions and done a structured and determined research methodologies arrive at findings that go out betterow themselves to analysis and conclusions.Purpose of StudyShoplifting is a serious social problem which appears to be increasing and, apart from universe naive acts of minor(ip) crime, could be symptomatic of different social problems. The increasing incidence of elderly citizens involving themselves in shoplifting makes it an even more grim issue for take aim and adoption of corrective measures.The researcher hopes that the study impart be able to investigate the issue in depth and come to findings and conclusions that ordain project light on the basic reasons behind elderly shoplifting and thus succeed in illuminating the issu e and possibly in universe able to provide an current and interesting perspective to one of straightaways extremely irritate and contentious dilemmas.At the cost of look presumptuous some of the solutions recommended may be worthy of implementation at the social level or be taken up for love by the criminal justice system. explore MethodologyData compendium MethodsThis research assignment attempts to investigate the issues laid out in the voice on Research Questions (in Page 5 of this proposal), namely the reasons behind the increase in episodes of shoplifting and possible solutions that will help to resolve this vexing social problem. The issue at hand deals with an increasingly traumatic globose problem that today affects the societies of developed countries and could tomorrow, spread to the rest of the world.The appropriate research methodology for the social occasion of this assignment ask to take take of the facts discussed until now and be tailored accordingly.An a rticle on Integrating Quantitative and soft Methods in Social marketing Research by Nedra Kline Weinrich, starting published in 1996 details a methodology, wherein a balanced and well design out mix of quantifiable and soft research techniques could well be the most appropriate methodology for conducting this assignment In the subject assignment the researcher feels that rigorous duodecimal research spates may not needfully provide all of the selective information needed for proper analysis.An examination of the duodecimal and qualitative paradigms will help to identify their strengths and weaknesses and how their divergent approaches can concomitant from all(prenominal) one other. In most cases, researchers fall into one of the two camps, each relying exclusively upon objective plenty questionnaires and statistical analyses and shuning warm and fuzzy qualitative methods, or using only qualitative methodologies, rejecting the denary approach as decontextualizing hu man behavior. However, it is widely accepted that each approach has positive attributes and that combining different methods, if handled properly, can result in the best of both techniques. (Weinrich, 1996)Research techniques apply for quantitative analysis aim to achieve objective results and eschew subjective interpretation. The answerings are generally selected through random sampling in a statistical manner aimed at achieving a rejoinder from the selected sample, which will be representative of the total universe of discourse. The research methodology pays much greater stress on the technique employ and the basic premise on which the technique rests assumes that the quality of the researcher is independent of the results, his or her function being restricted to the following of guidelines.Weinrich postulates that while this technique is effective in a number of cases and is widely used, it suffers from an inherent danger of missing the finer nuances of an investigation and frequently leads to misleading results that are not supported by the rising behaviour of the investigated population. As such, while this mode of research may be statistically sound, it could as well as be the reason behind the oft-quoted truth lies, beshrew lies and statisticsqualitative research methods are vastly different and concentrate on working with footlinger groups known as focus groups. These focus groups are selected with great care but later subjected to intensive questioning and interviewing by trained researchers who are very well versed in qualitative techniques. It is the job of these researchers to ensure that their respondents are able to provide them with subjective and instructive information, which would have never come out with quantitative techniques. The selective breeding tends to be much more detailed, full of nuances and give the investigation a holistic result, which is invaluable in assessing exits.A number of researchers believe that qualitat ive and quantitative researches are but two sides of the same coin and members of the same continuum.Qualitative research methodologies are designed to provide the researcher with the perspective of rate audience members through immersion in a culture or situation and direct interaction with the people under study. Qualitative methods include observations, in-depth interviews and focus groups. These methods are designed to help researchers see to it the complexity of social and organizational phenomena and elucidate mental processes underlying behaviors. Hypotheses are generated during data collection and analysis, and measurements tend to be subjective. In the qualitative paradigm, the researcher becomes the instrument of data collection, and results may vary greatly depending upon who conducts the research.There are however some techniques wherein it is possible to integrate qualitative and quantitative methods in research.In the first approach, qualitative methods contribute t o the development of quantitative instruments, such as the use of focus groups in questionnaire construction. The second mildew consists of a primarily quantitative study that uses qualitative results to help interpret or explain the quantitative findings. In the third approach, quantitative results help interpret predominantly qualitative findings, as when focus group participants are asked to fill out survey questionnaires at the session. In the fourth model, the two methodologies are used equally, in parallel to cross-validate, and build upon each others results. may lam under one or more of these models the approaches are not reciprocally exclusive. (Weinreich, 1996)Choice of In doion SourceThe pick of material to be used for the research assignment excessively needs decision and quantification. In this case, the researcher proposes to use both primeval and secondary sources of information for compilation of data. primitive sources used will be derived from the informatio n available publicly and information gathered by the researcher. domain material includes governmental notifications, texts of legal acts and statutes and original company websites of organizations providing tourism services. The researcher has also depended on questionnaires from respondents chosen from deep down the contact resource unintellectual of the researcher.Secondary sources will include information available from texts, journals and magazines as well as information available on the internet.Population and SamplingThe research methodology will focus on an investigative study of the data sources proposed to be researched as well as the texts intended for review in the Literature Review. The literature has been chosen with care and will be studied extensively. The researcher has explained the reasons behind the natural selection of techniques, a carefully thought out mix of quantitative and qualitative techniques and the choice of source of information, in this case both primary and secondary.In growth to all the secondary sources listed in the references and bibliography it is proposed to conduct a detailed survey of persons whose occupations put them in close contact with elderly shop lifters.It is proposed to restrict the primary research to guardmen and departmental store gage personnel, people who are generally the first to come in contact with elderly shoplifters subsequently they are apprehended and who are the first to study their reactions. The researcher wished to investigate shoplifters directly but feels that it will be an extremely difficult task to locate and obtain primary information from them. It is with regret that this route of investigation is not being considered in the course of this research study.The respondents will be chosen with the help pf the local police department and with the help of third major departmental stores. Structured questionnaires, detailed in Appendix A will be sent to ten policemen with experience o f shoplifting episodes and to ten members of the internal security departments of trine major departmental stores. It is anticipated that full twenty responses will be obtained as the researcher proposes to approach the respondents through senior officers of the police force and through the managements of department stores.The senior officers of the police force and store managers will be approached with letters of accreditation from the university authorities and the researcher is sure of receiving their cooperation, once the reasons for the research are explained to them.Data Collection MethodsThe purpose of research and material available from secondary sources has been used as the base for developing the questionnaire. The questions have been prepared on the multiple choice format asking the respondent to choose the most sui circuit board answer from a set of responses. This will enable the researcher to obtain the compressed response of a closed end question yet allow the res pondent a choice. The questionnaires will be sent by e trip out to the respondents with detailed instructions on completing the questionnaires. All respondents will be assured of total privacy and questionnaires will be numbered numerically and not by name of respondent. All completed questionnaires will first be tabulated on excel spreadsheets and subsequently presented in a simple table format. Once the tabulation is completed and checked thoroughly the spreadsheets will be erased to have only one representation of primary data.Literature ReviewIt is used to make substantial use of secondary material in the form of texts, journals and magazine articles as well as internet sources for purposes of data availability, analysis and investigation. Online libraries like Questia and other databases are already being used liberally and their extensive use in future during the course of the research is envisaged.. All sources used, cited in text or not have been place in the bibliography. The researcher prefers to take up topics for discussion sequentially and use inputs from a number of sources rather than deal with the sources and their authors separately for the sake of logical progression of ideas and cohesion of thought.The researcher has practically no first hand experience of shoplifting, no personal acquaintance with shoplifters and no close at first hand experience of shoplifting episodes. The interest in shoplifting was first generated by the books The Sociology of Shoplifting Boosters and Snitches by Lloyd Klemke and When Ladies Go A-Thieving Middle-Class Shoplifters in the squared-toe subdivision Store by Elaine S. Abelson. Both of these books are extremely informative get a line to look at the problem in totality.Abelson makes the point that shoplifting is not a contemporary phenomenon but has existed from the time huge stores started opening in the USA. Shoplifting was a regular phenomenon and when indulged in by women from the upper classes were predicate as a mental disorder with many physicians taking up the case of kleptomaniacs. In fact the word klepto became a much used expression to describe people with the knack for picking up wee items from here and there. The shops slowly became larger and larger providing temptation on a never before scale and gave rise to a social problem that would remain and increase through the years.the excitement, the sensory stimulation, the profusion of goods, the crowds, the unnerving, often illusory, atmosphere that the large department stores still evoke. As the great bazaars became both attractive feature and danger to poem of middleclass women, the shoplifter emerged as a significant social and medical problem. (Abelson, 1992, p. 5)Over time the image of kleptomania as a specific female disease weakened with the emergence of Freudian thought but the companionship continued for many years. It is only in recent years, however, that the fraternity of shoplifting and women has been eradicated completely.with the emergence of a new scientific language, the terms of debate changed. The biological image of a specifically female disease gave way to Freudian psychiatry. In this new language, as in the old, women still provided the model of the shoplifter as patient even though men as well as women, adolescents as well as the elderly, made up the army of casual shoplifters. Only in recent decades has the singular association of shoplifting and women weakened. (Abelson, 1992, p. 197)On another tack, the books proposed to be studied in the literature review have tried to categorize deviant behavior into different categories. Mary Owen Cameron (1964) attempted to classify shoplifters using the patois of her time into boosters and snitchers.These are the boosters, who are professional shoplifters, and the snitches, who are amateur shoplifters. The most important end is that boosters steal merchandise to sell, whereas snitches steal merchandise for their own use. Boost ers are nurture divided into heels, who specialize in shoplifting, and ordinary boosters, who engage in shoplifting as just one of their many forms of illicit activity. The latter are frequently involved in prostitution, narcotics addiction, and alcoholism, and they shoplift to support their habits. (Klemke, 1992, p. 70)Apart from analyse the causes and reasons for shoplifting, the breadth of this investigation makes it necessary to obtain information about elderly shoplifters. There is very little information available on elderly shoplifters in the detailed texts available and most such information needs to be accessed from contemporary articles in magazines and journals, some of which are available on the internet.There is common consensus in the fact that shoplifting among the elderly has been growing for more than a decade and has become a serious matter of concern. The reasons for shoplifting appear to vary from depression to real need to simple momentary greed.Several studie s have lay out diagnosed depression to exist in approximately 1/3 of the shoplifters studied. Depression was the most frequently found physiological problem. This helps to explain why so many shoplifters steal from stores on their birthday and around holiday times. (Berlin, 2006)The other point of concern is the fact that the number of first offences is also growing and more and more of the elderly are giving in to the temptation of pilfering items from departmental stores for the first time in their lives. Psychiatrists believe that, as most elderly shoplifters do not indulge in this sort of petty crime because of financial need the phenomenon may be indicative of psychiatric disorders and should be dealt with accordingly.There is also the theory that changing social conditions and difficulties in coping with increased expenses in old age leads some people to take up small crimes like shoplifting.The elderly are not only victims of crime, they are also perpetrators, particularly i n the crime of shoplifting. The loss of income at retirement and the social isolation of the elderly are contributing factors in their involvement in theft. The raising of the compulsory retirement age and preretirement counselling could do much to relieve the elderlys sense of desperation that often leads to crime. Public services that inform the elderly about crime prevention measures and provide victim services could do much to relieve the debilitating consequences of crime against the elderly. The elderly themselves could organize to attack their common problems. One activity they strength undertake is court watching, which involves monitoring how the elderly are treated by the courts as both victims and offenders. (Moak, Zimmer, Elliot, 1988)The researcher will study the literature available from a number of angles, chiefly the historical development of shoplifting, the increase in elderly involvement, the chief reasons for shoplifting, psychiatric responses to the issue, the role of counselling, the provisions of the criminal justice system and common punitive action. The bibliography contains a listing of a number of texts to be used for the literature review. This list is by no nitty-gritty exhaustive and additional books will certainly be used if they are relevant and become available.AnalysisThe researcher proposes tu use data from primary and secondary sources to arrive at findings for analysis and conclusions. Primary data, apart from questionnaires from respondents in the police force and security departments of departmental sources will be obtained from various legal and governmental websites. Secondary data, as stated earlier will be obtained from the various texts studied for the literature review.Once the data has been collect and collated in an Excel spreadsheet it will be analysed for responses and the data from all the questionnaires will be merged into tabulated formats that will give composite pictures of the responses from the primary population sample. Tabulations will need to be done separately for the responses from the policemen and the store security personnel to see the differences in the knowledges of these two different groups.It is important to understand that the analysis will need to be done with reference to the Research Questions. The responses from the secondary data and the primary data will need to be related to each Research Question separately and it will need to be assessed whether there are any contradictions between the secondary data, the different primary data sources and the Research Question. Responses in which all sources corroborate each other will obviously be considered to be strong and categorical and will need to be treated as such.A detailed analysis of the data will lead to findings that will determine the outcome of this research.ConstraintsConstraints, if any could arise in the collection of primary data. Respondents may not return the filled questionnaires or may fill them in correctly. The researcher proposes to pay great attention to the complete procedure for collection of primary data and will meke sincere efforts to overcome problems and roadblocks, if and when they arise.AppendicesFraming of QuestionnaireThe Questionnaire will be enclose in a variation of a multiple choice format, where each question could have a direct response or 3 to 5 choices. In case of MCQs the respondent will need to specify one particular answer so that the best possible choice is forced out of him/her. A sample questionnaire is provided here below. This questionnaire is still open to revision and incorporation of fresh details, if so required. Apart from the questions the questionnaire will also have other administrative details which have been omitted in the formulation of this first sample.How many episodes of shoplifting have you been witness to? A. Less than 5, B. amid 5 and 10, C More than 10In these episodes of shoplifting what were the numbers of A. Men B.Women C . Juveniles (Less than 18) D. Adults (18 to 60) E. Seniors (60)In how many of these episodes were charges pressed in court?In how many of the cases were convictions obtained?Is the incidence of shoplifting growing? Yes/NoIn your perception are more elders indulging in shoplifting? Yes/NoWhat is the most important reason for shoplifting? A. Financial Need B. ImpulseAre episodes of shoplifting premeditated or impulsive A. Premeditated B. ImpulsiveIn your experience, do you feel that people involved in shoplifting come from poorer economic strata? Yes/NoIn your experience do you feel that people involved in shoplifting suffer from any mental disorder? Yes/NoDo you feel that elderly shoplifters should be treated more leniently than the others? Yes/NoDo you feel that elderly people are treated more leniently than the others? Yes/NoWhat do you feel is the best way to treat first time elderly offenders? A. Punishment B. focal point C. Warning D. Combination of the above (Specify)Do you fe el that the Criminal Justice System should be stricter with shoplifters? Yes/NoLocation of respondentsIt has been decided that the there will be 10 respondents from the police force and ten respondents from the security departments of departmental stores.the researcher will access senior officials of the police force and the three chosen departmental stores.The researcher will write letters to them with the following contentsPersonal introductionIntroduction of academic institution propagation to tutor and Head of InstitutionPurpose of StudyLikely benefits of studyCooperation requiredAppreciation and gratitude.Despatch of these letters will be followed by personal phone calls, appointments and confirmation of respondents.ReferencesAbelson, E. S. (1992). When Ladies Go A-Thieving Middle-Class Shoplifters in the Victorian Department Store. New York Oxford University Press.Arbetter, L. (1993, September). surety Spotlight Shoplifting Reigns Supreme. Security Management, 37, 16+. Retrie ved October 8, 2006, from Questia database http//www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002195097Berlin, P, (2006), Why do shoplifters steal? Retrieved October 7, 2006 from character-education.info/Articles/shoplifting.htmCollrin, C. B., & Hiew, C. (1983). arrest Interventions in the Criminal Justice System a Process Analysis. Canadian Journal of Criminology, 25(3), 319-328. Retrieved October 8, 2006, from Questia database http//www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=95774187Griffin, R. (1989, December). Why the Temptation?. Security Management, 33, 126+. Retrieved October 8, 2006, from Questia database http//www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002152732Hiew, C. C. (1981). Prevention of Shoplifting a corporation Action Approach. Canadian Journal of Criminology, 23(1), 57-68. Retrieved October 8, 2006, from Questia database http//www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=95814646Klemke, L. W. (1992). The Sociology of Shoplifting Boosters and Snitches Today. Westport, CT Praeger. Retrieved October 8, 2006, from Questia database http//www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=24370606Moak, G, Zimmer, B and Elliot, M (1988) clinical perspectives on elderly first time offender shoplifters, Retrieved October 7, 2006 from psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/ crochet/39/6/648Sacco, V. F. (1985). Shoplifting Prevention the Role of Communication-Based Intervention Strategies. Canadian Journal of Criminology, 27(1), 15-30.Weinrich, N.K., (1996) Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Social Marketing Research, Social-Marketing.com, Retrieved October 7, 2006 from www.social-marketing.com/research.htmlWilliams, J, (2002), Pyromania, Kleptomania and other Impulse-Control Disorders, Retrieved October 7, 2006 from www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/kleptomania.htm