Literature Review:

This assignment will help you improve your ability to research, summarize, analyze, and engage critically with quantitative research studies by developing a literature review based on a select research topic.

The assignment will include two components:

1. a review and analysis of 3 peer reviewed journal articles or scholarly book chapters that use quantitative methods in the area of research we will be working with. You will be provided with details for 2 of the 3 peer reviewed sources. You must search, download and access all three articles on your own.
2. A proposal for further study, discussion of general trends identified in the articles, or limitations of existing research. Some of this will be done in your review of literature for each article (remember a literature review is not simply a summary). However, in this component of the assignment you will be tying it all together. In this section you will also be required to formulate a research question which will (hypothetically) set the terrain for a future research proposal and research project on the topic of youth, violence and crime. (Part of the intention of conducting a literature review is to see what is already out there, and what areas can be further developed).

Research Topic:

A significant crime prevention issue concerns the topic of youth violence. Here, 'Youth' is understood to include individuals aged 12-19 years old. 'Violence' here includes the intentional use of physical or psychological force to produce injury or death, and which can include bullying, hate crimes, sexual assault, use of weapons, and aggressive behaviour. What are some factors contributing to violent behaviour among youth? Are these factors gender informed, socio-biological (hormones, low IQ), social-structural (poverty; social disorganization), racial/cultural, mental-health related (stress; self-worth), trauma-related (cycles of violence), or is there no clear consensus?

Two scholarly sources to complement the third (which you will identify):

DeCamp, W., & Ferguson, C. J. (2016). "The impact of degree of exposure to violent video games, family background, and other factors on youth violence". Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46(2), 388-400.

Paschall, M.J., Ennett, S.T. & Flewelling, R.L. (1996). "Relationships among family

characteristics and violent behavior by black and white male adolescents".Journal of Youth and Adolescence,25(2), 177-197.