Charles Tiffan, Ph.D., Dean, School of Public Safety
Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Capella University
1 January 2011
( Irving L. Miller 2011
ABSTRACT
Gangs have had an influence upon communities of the Midwestern United States for decades for some communities this influence has lasted for more than six decades. Those gang descendents threaten to take that influence to another level. A new phenomenon is taking place. Gangs are joining the military to receive training and bring that training back to their members. This is a small quantitative study to determine if militarily trained gang members in these communities increase the threat of violence to the community. Dr. Carter Smith originated this investigation in his dissertation Perceptions of gang Investigation regarding presence of military-trained gang members (2010). The original quantitative study surveyed investigators from the Tennessee Gang Investigators Association. This study will be similar in scope and interest, and will build on Dr Smith's original concept. Using the Military gang perception questionnaire authored by Dr. Smith, to collect the data, this study will poll investigators from the Mid-west gang Investigators association?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks go out to all who have helped me complete this study and with whom this project may have not been possible. In particular, my gratitude goes out to friends, facilitator and family for extensive and helpful comments on early drafts. I am also deeply indebted to the authors who have shared my interest and preceded me. Their works provided me with a host of information to learn from and build upon, also served as examples to emulate.
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DECLARATION
I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACTii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSiii
DECLARATIONiv
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1
Purpose of the Study2
Background of the Study5
Statement of the Problem8
Rationale10
Research Questions12
Definition of Terms14
What is a gang?14
Conceptual framework16
Organization of the Remainder of the Study17
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW18
Midwest Gang Investigators Association (MGIA)20
United States and MTG21
Gangs in 21st century23
Military trained gangs and Violent Behavior26
Violence28
Theories of Gang Violence30
Structural Explanations32
Social Processes33
Conclusions38
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY40
Research design40
Research questions40
Phenomenology42
Steps for methodology44
Reason for selecting the research method45
Imaginative Variation45
Quantitative Data Analysis46
Research Instrument46
Data Collection Procedure47
The Questionnaire47
Types of Questionnaires48
Descriptive statistics48
Internal Validity49
Ethical Considerations49
Informed Consent51
Confidentiality51
Sample52
Data Analysis53
Reliability/Dependability53
Validity55
Reliability (If using Questionnaire)56
Data Analysis57
Quantitative Data Analysis57
Data Security: Participant Anonymity and Document Retention57
Limitation of the study58
Justifying the Research Question59
Summary60
Flow Chart61
REFERENCES63
APPENDICES68
Questionnaire68
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
This is a quantitative survey based study about gangs in the military; specifically, street gang whose members join the military, receive training, and return home to the communities from which they entered the military as in the case of the National guard or reserves or with the express intent to use their military training to further the gang's agenda on the streets of that ...