The Study of Sampson and Groves (1989), Essay Example

The study of Sampson and Groves (1989) is a comprehensive and scientifically valid inquiry into the nature of crime and delinquency in urban areas. The authors have made a significant step forward since the time when the social disorganization theory has been formulated by Shaw and McKay; the authors have managed not only to test the theory empirically, but also to add the variables of family disruption and urbanization to the list of factors determining the disorganization process. Nevertheless, studying the article carefully, one can come across certain challenges in validity and cause/effect determination. As one can see from the study of Sampson and Groves (1989), the constructs of Shaw and McKay were taken in accordance with the previously designed model of disorganization; however, family disruption and urbanization have frequently been directly associated with the increase crime rates. Therefore, there is a doubt regarding the need to include the intervening variable of social disorganization when considering challenging family conditions and urbanization.

Second, there is a threat to external validity of the study of Sampson and Groves (1989) in the process of data analysis, and elicitation of the temporal cause-and-effect relationship. The authors stated that low SES, ethnic heterogeneity, residential mobility, and family disruption contribute to the establishment of social disorganization (which is characterized by poor friendship and kinship networks, control of street youth groups, and low organizational participation). The high level of social disorganization is considered the cause of crime and delinquency. However, some common sense considerations may indicate that there is no temporal cause-and-effect relationship between social disorganization and crime rates’ rise; all these characteristics, including crime and delinquency, can be related to the features of a social disorganized society.

References

Sampson, R. T., & Groves, W. B. (1989). Community Structure and Crime: Testing Social-Disorganization Theory. The American Journal of Sociology, 94(4), 774-802.