NatCen

• year?

  2011
• aim?

  find out what triggered August riots in 2011, focusing on young people's involvement
• method?

  * interview method

  * ppts interviewed in groups of 2 or 4

  * interviews took place 5 weeks after riots
• sample?

  * 36 ppts, half under 18 and half over

  * both genders represented

  * range of ethnic groups

  * most ppts still in education
• extra info?

  * researchers gained full informed consent

  * reassured everyone answers would be confidential

  * people unaffected by riots were also interviewed
• what study found (1)?

  * rioting first started during peaceful protest about shooting of London man by police

  * Tottenham riots triggered more specifically by incident between local girl and police

  * riots included wide range of people; employed and unemployed, age groups, ethnic groups and still in education

  * researchers identified nudge and tug factors
• what study found (2)?

  researchers divided those involved into 4 categories:

  * watchers - present at riots but only observed what was happening; some were bystanders but others came to watch on purpose

  * rioters - actively involved in violence; some thrill seekers but some upset about initial shooting

  * looters - broke into shops or stole goods; some were opportunists and others were sellers wanting to maximise own profits

  * non involved - didn't take part; some wannabes and others chose to stay away
• dispositional factors affecting decision making in young people?

  * previous criminal activity

  * attitudes towards authority

  * their own future prospects
• situational factors affecting decision making?

  * behaviour in groups

  * peer pressure

  * presence of authority figure

  * being/ not being informed about riots
• other factors affecting decision making?

  * family attitudes

  * community

  * belonging

  * poverty and materialism
• conclusions?

  * decision to get involved or not were influenced by what young people thought was right or wrong and whether benefits of joining in outweighed risks

  * anti social behaviour generally determined by dispositional factors and collective behaviour
• criticisms?

  * sample might not be representative bc small

  * sample was biased bc trouble finding ppts so ended up relying on those who were imprisoned

  * findings could lack validity bc of socially desirable responses

  * relied on people's memory which could be unreliable after 5 weeks