THE IMPACT OF THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD SETTING ON THE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: A RESEARCH CHRONICLE

ABSTRACT

Field research in a correctional setting may be subject to a number of constraints and biases in tenns of entree, and data acquisition and evaluation. The impact of this setting on the research experience was examined through the experience of conducting research at a local correctional facility. The article has implications for field research at local, state, or federal institutions because of the common institutional concents of confinement, security, secrecy, and conformity. Use of an intermediaiy, triangulation, and reciprocity are discussed as ways to eliminate or alleviate the inherent problems of correctional field research.