Research Portfolio Post #7: Qualitative Data Sources

My research question is what explains success or failure in sex worker based activist groups campaigns to decriminalize sex work. The values I will include for my dependent variable is full decriminalization, partial decriminalization (the Nordic Model), and criminalization.  Full decriminalization would be operationalized for success, partial decriminalization would be mixed success, and continued criminalization would be considered failure.

Since I am using legal definitions such as decriminalization to measure my dependent variable, the qualitative data sources I am using to operationalize my dependent variable are focused on legislation. One of the data sources I am using to operationalize my dependent variable is the New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act of 2003[1]. This act authorized the full decriminalization of sex work with the intention of improving the working conditions and health of sex workers.[2] I have also found a news source that confirms that this was a sex worker activist informed piece of legislation.[3]  Catherine Haley, the activist that co-founded the organization New Zealand Prostitutes Collective is featured in the article. I include this information because it helps confirm that decriminalization would be considered a way to operationalize success when measuring the outcomes of sex-worker based activism.

Moving forward I intend to operationalize my dependent variable two ways. First, I will be finding qualitative evidence that illustrates whether there is the presence of criminalization, partial decriminalization, and decriminalization in each of my cases. I will use ratified legislation specifically for cases where there is either full decriminalization or partial decriminalization. In cases where there is failure (continued criminalization), I will include draft decriminalization bills or policy briefs from sex worker based activist groups or NGOs. Secondly, I will seek out qualitative sources such as news articles or blog posts, to find out if sex-worker based activist groups think favorably of laws ratified. I will be doing this because I understand that legislation when implemented may not always align with the intentions of activist groups.

 

Bibliography:

  1. New Zealand Ministry of Justice, Prostitution Reform Act 2003 No 28 (as at 26 November 2018), Public Act Accessed October 26, 2019. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0028/latest/whole.html#DLM197821.
  2. Romo, Vanessa. “Queen Honors Activist Who Fought To Decriminalize Prostitution : The Two-Way : NPR.” June 4, 2018 (Accessed October 26, 2019) https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/06/04/616865934/queen-honors-activist-who-fought-to-decriminalize-prostitution.

 

 

[1] “Prostitution Reform Act 2003 No 28 (as at 26 November 2018), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation.” Accessed October 27, 2019. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0028/latest/whole.html#DLM197815.

[2] Ibid. Section 3, Articles a-e

[3] “Queen Honors Activist Who Fought To Decriminalize Prostitution : The Two-Way : NPR.” Accessed October 28, 2019. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/06/04/616865934/queen-honors-activist-who-fought-to-decriminalize-prostitution.

2 thoughts to “Research Portfolio Post #7: Qualitative Data Sources”

  1. Hi, Thamara! I think that you do a great job here identifying your question, dependent variable, and how the dependent variable will be measured. I also think that you do a great job identifying different primary sources that you could use to operationalize you dependent variable.
    Moving forward, to you have any ideas about what specific case studies you are researching? Would cases be particular countries or focus on particular activists group campaigns? I think that considering this could be very beneficial to find other primary sources. Looking at presidential statements about different laws could also be another place to find data. I am excited to see where your research goes!

  2. Thamara — you have a good start here in terms of thinking about your DV in the abstract and in thinking about what kinds of primary source data would tell you about the value that the DV takes in a given case. Remember that thinking about the DV and question in this methodology can’t really be separated from thinking about specific cases, though. As Savannah indicates, having some preliminary idea of the cases would allow you to be more precise (e.g. “What explains the decriminalization success in Place A and the failure in Place B?”) and would also then point you to case-specific data sources. Keep thinking about these things as you continue your reading and research!

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