Police Patrol Essay Example for Free

Police Patrol Essay Section 1 – Introduction Indeed, the safety and prosperity of local communities is dependent upon, in large part, a prevention of criminal activity.   It is in safe communities that businesses grow and prosper, people bring their families to live, and others like to visit.   With this in mind, the classic way to ensure that communities are free of crime is through the use of police patrol.   It is the police presence that has typically kept crime in check (Sklansky).   However, the financial cost of police patrol often makes such protection quite difficult to put into action.    In this research, the cost of police patrol will be examined through the discussion of the following article: Farrell, Graham, Erin Lane, Ken Clark, and Andromachi Tseloni. What Does the World Spend on Policing? [*]. International Journal of Comparative Sociology (2001): 59. Conversely, alternative methods of crime prevention, aside from the use of the conventional police patrol will be examined through the discussion of this article: Rubin, Herbert J. Economic Partnering with the Poor: Why Local Governments Should Work with Community-Based Development Organizations to Promote Economic Development. International Journal of Public Administration 23.9 (2000): 1679. Additional sources will be cited where necessary to ultimately make the point that while police patrol is important, it is costly, and there are other methods/resources that can be tapped into to complement the effectiveness of police patrols without exceeding budgets or overextending the ability of small police forces to accomplish what they need to accomplish. Section 2 The Main Points of the Two Articles Farrell, Graham, Erin Lane, Ken Clark, and Andromachi Tseloni. What Does the World Spend on Policing? [*]. International Journal of Comparative Sociology (2001): 59. The main point of this article are that internationally, in small and large nations alike, the total amount of money spent on policing and crime prevention totals in the hundreds of billions of dollars, and with that, the question of whether or not that money is well spent.   Additionally, the article discusses the role of civilians in the process of preventing crime, which reduces the burden on the conventional police patrol. Rubin, Herbert J. Economic Partnering with the Poor: Why Local Governments Should Work with Community-Based Development Organizations to Promote Economic Development. International Journal of Public Administration 23.9 (2000): 1679. In close relation to the first article, this article makes the point that among other governmental organizations, local police agencies should work with community-based, civilian organizations to achieve the goal of fighting crime, which is one of the main reasons for the existence of police patrols themselves. Section 3 Comparison and Contrast of the Two Articles The two articles chosen for this research do in fact possess similarities and differences which, ironically, all contribute to making the point that police patrols are effective and necessary, but would not be effective, and indeed cannot be effective, if they are overburdened by too much work for too few officers, or if the police organizations are unduly restrained by a lack of economic resources. First, the Farrell article weighs the cost of police patrol against the results that are obtained for the money that is spent.   Far from saying that police patrols are ineffective, the article says that overburdened police patrols are ineffective, and therefore, in lieu of money that does not exist, police patrols should be aided by community/civilian resources whenever possible. Following on the heels of the first article, the Rubin article makes the very important point that local police agencies, if faced with a lack of funds, should work more closely with community organizations in order to achieve effective crime prevention and apprehension of criminal offenders after the fact. In a roundabout way, both articles do in fact make the same point; if police patrols are to be effective in the future as they have been in the past, they will need some help.   The answer is not to overextend patrols or to cut them due to underfunding, but rather to collaborate more closely with the community for the mutual benefit of both.   The modern police force faces challenges that those of the past did not; increasing need for diversity in police forces, additional personnel because of the increases in crime, and population increases make the scope of the traditional police patrol much more complicated and expensive than ever before (Sklansky).   Also significant is the huge cost of the processing of criminal cases in courts of law due to the increasing complexity of criminal law (Frodsham) Section 4 – Conclusion Based on the analysis of these articles and accompanying additional resources, the conclusion has been reached that police patrols are very effective, if and only if they are either properly funded or if they are assisted by civilians and community organizations in the absence of adequate funding.   Therefore, in conclusion, police patrols should be continued, and should be supported by communities if they are to continue to properly function.

A Stranger Is Watching Essay -- essays research papers

A Stranger is Watching A Stranger is Watching is a terrific book. I enjoyed reading this book very much. The non-stop action kept me reading for hours.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the best features of the book is how it was written. The point of view changes every chapter. For example Chapter 1 is written in the point of view of the infamous Foxy character. Chapter 2 is written in the point if view of our protagonist, Steve; and so on .I also liked how the author built the relationship of the characters up, so you care about what happens to them and feel like you're going through what they are going through. For instance, the author tells us of Steve's wife's death. We find out that Steve's son, Neil was never the same after this tragedy. When a new women, Sharon comes into Steve's life, Neil rejects her. Neil thinks that if Sharon and his father get married ,his father will send him away. When Neil and Sharon are held hostage together, Neil's feelings for Sharon change; he begins to see her as a nice person and a motherlike figure. I felt the author built this relationship up well so that the story would have a happy ending.  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I also like how the author made the character traits of the protagonist completely conflict with the antagonist. The protagonist, Steve is a successful man with a family and no problems; at least in the mind of the antagoni...

How Far Do You Agree with the Opinion That the Boer Was Acted as a Spur to Much Needed Reform in Britain

How far do you agree with the opinion that the Boer war acted as a spur to much needed reform in Britain? The Boer war acted as a catalyst to reform in many ways. It had considerable impact politically and socially. Many changes were put in place, from improving the army to public health care. Initially what acted as a spur was the amount of deaths and the cost of the war, 22,000 were killed costing ? 200 million therefore this led to a wake up call for the Army.However one may argue that it was not just the Boer war that induced reforms to be made in Britain; individuals such as Richard Burton Haldane who was appointed war minister could have implemented changes without the Boer war being a significant factor. The Committee of Imperial defence was set up in 1903 addressing that critical reform was needed in regards to the way Britain defended itself and strategy of planning.This was introduced to learn lesson from the Boer war furthermore Lord Salisbury established the Royal Commiss ions under Lord Elgin, some of the changes that were implemented was the abolition of the post of Commander in Chief, this was highly significant as it allowed other posts to be introduced and the elite class did not buy there way into the Army and posts were given by merit hence allowing more competent individuals to run the Army. Source B shows that inefficiencies of the armed forces and the how important the Esher Report was in reforming it.The source highlighted that there was much needed reform in the army and much of these reforms that were introduced were due to the Boer war, â€Å"it coolly analysed the confusions and ineffectiveness of military administration† considering the provenance I can see that it is from a Book by the historian Corelli Barnett who studied English military history and it was published in 1970 hence implying that Barnett must have collected a wide range of sources over a long period of time and judged them fairly before coming to a rational con clusion.Source A suggests that Britain has had â€Å"an imperial lesson† and will learn from it and will strengthen the Empire. The nature of the source is an extract from a poem by Rudyard Kipling. The provenance could be challenged as it was written by Kipling who was pro Empire, so it may have an exaggerative nature however one may argue that the idea of reform as a result of the Boer war was widespread and accepted at the time, moreover source B which is reliable also accepts the viewpoint.There were huge numbers of men that were deemed unfit for military service; this was made apparent when they led an investigation into why it took so long and why it was so expensive just to defeat 50 000 farmers, from this investigation they saw that they had to make changes hence why the Committee on Physical Deterioration was established; it was set up in 1903 and found that it was not physical deterioration regarding physical health but there was a growing need to improve living, wo rking and education conditions.This produced the need for national efficiency. Many different groups wanted to improve Britains social system by making the Empire efficient and putting more children into Education for longer to allow the spread of social mobility. A meritocracy was also introduced thus allowing individuals to embark of a career based on qualifications and not social class. This could only have been put in place because of the Boer war. Source D evidently shows the need for national efficiency, it shows that 26. % of people were rejected out of 3600 recruits in Sheffield, York and Leeds. â€Å"3 out of 5 volunteers were rejected† this was astonishingly high and highlighted the pressing need to change Britain socially. Free school meals were introduced in 1906 and provision of medical inspections of children. The National Insurance Act of 1911 which provided free medical health for the working class. As a results of the many deaths that occurred in the Second B oer war, new administrative structures were put in place.From acknowledging the fast reactions, skills and talented nature of the Boers, the British needed to put some hard reforms in place. Firstly they removed the traditional bright scarlet uniform for the khaki which allowed a better disguise, new weaponry was introduced such as the Lee Enfield rifle and quick firing guns were produced which were learned from massacres like the one at spion kop. Hence showing that all these changes were due to the learning of mistakes from the Boer war.Source C is an extract from a memorandum from Haldane on military reform published in 1907 this was written by Haldane who was appointed the war minister thus implying that this source is accurate as a war minister would not make exaggerated claims on reforming the military, therefore the provenance of this source is reliable, this source explains the mobilisation of the territorial or home force. However some may say that it was not largely due to the result of the Boer war but because of political changes that were inevitably going to take place.Whenever a new party comes into power is it understandable that they would make important decisions on how to run the country, nevertheless one may argue that the Boer war had an impact on decision making. Furthermore judging from the sources most of them all are in agreement with each other Sources B, C and D are written by reliable people, Historian and politicians were are Source A is a poem written by an individual who is pro empire however there is substantial evidence to support what is written in this poem. Hence why I agree with the view that the second Boer war resulted in much needed reform in Britain.

USS Reprisal (CV-35) in World War II

The Representations of Femininity in Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen, one of the most well-known 19th century novelists recognized today continues to captivate people with stories of love and romance through the transformation of her novels into film and television. All of her novels are about women dealing with romance, courtship, and marriage during a repressing period. Most of her characters and stories revolve around the lives of the upper class. It centers on the values, rituals, and manners of high society in England during the Regency Era. Her most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice published in 1813 maintains the interest of its audiences as it did almost two centuries earlier as evidenced by its frequent incarnations. In 1995, the British Broadcasting Corporation produced a six†¦show more content†¦This adaptation offers an accurate representation of the story and characters which overall offers a beautiful visual rich in semiotics for exploration. In Roberta Grandi’s article, The Passion Translated: Literary and C inematic Rhetoric in Pride and Prejudice, she observes that â€Å"in an age when naked bodies are overexposed and sex is common topic of discussion, costume films rediscover a taste for visual repression. Through the concealment of the bodies and translation of their sensuality into objects, both voyeuristic and fetishist sensations are enhanced† (50) which I believe is the reason behind the lasting appeal of period dramas. This will keep audiences, especially the younger viewers today, engaged in the characters conversations, actions and tiny gestures in an attempt to decipher what the characters truly feel and think as in Grandi’s words, â€Å"if passion is nowhere expressed it means that passion is concealed everywhere† (50). Even if the times had changed and values have become more progressive compared to that of Jane Austen time, viewers nevertheless enjoy the passion in herShow MoreRelatedComparing The Representation Of Women s The Yellow Wallpaper And Pride And Prejudice 1662 Words   |  7 PagesCompare the representation of women in Gilman’s ‘The yellow wallpaper’ and Austen’s ‘pride and prejudice’. To what extent do you agree with the view that Gilman presents conventional patriarchal expectations of women, more critically than Austen. Both Austen and Gilman breakthrough the conformity of femininity at a time of rising feminism in a bid to encourage the female viewpoint which was put down or rather shunned to be less valuable by the society they lived in. Gilman however presents it inRead MoreThe Imitation Game Essay1018 Words   |  5 Pagesthe question ‘How are men and women (masculinity and femininity) portrayed differently in the text?’. I intend to explore the portrayal of both men and women in the film ‘The Imitation Game’ directed by Morten Tyldum. Furthermore, I believe that the film portrays the patriarchal structure that is the basis of the portrayal of men and women. Essay The film, ‘The Imitation Game’, directed by Morten Tyldum portrays the unequal treatment of femininity compared to masculinity and the patriarchal structureRead MorePride And Prejudice By Jane Austen Essay1769 Words   |  8 PagesPride and Prejudice is a novel written by Jane Austen. It was first published in 1813. Ignoring the fact that I have already read the book in high school, the novel tackles on very interesting issues, which makes itself just as interesting for a book report. The story mainly revolves around Elizabeth Bennet as she faces issues concerning manners, upbringings, education, morality, and marriage. The setting is in England in the early 19th century, so the social norms found in the book are more accustomedRead MoreA Very Short Introduction By Jonathan Culler1279 Words   |  6 PagesIn Literary Criticism A Very Short Introduction, author Jonathan Culler writes on feminist theory: on the one hand, feminist theorists champion the identity of women, demand rights for women, and promote women’s writings as representations of the experience of women. On the other hand, feminists undertake a theoretical critique of the heterosexual matrix that organizes identities and cultures in terms of the opposition between man and woman (Culler 140). These two approaches, championing and critiquingRead MoreEssay on Analysis of Gender Representations in the Movie Shrek2565 Words   |  11 PagesAnalysis of Gender Representations in the Movie Shrek Shrek is a movie that is very different from any movies that one could see so far. It is a computer-animated American comedy film, directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and starring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. It was based on William Steigs 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!, and was produced by DreamWorks Animation. Clearly displaying its difference, Shrek was the first film to win an AcademyRead MoreFeminist Undertones in Pride and Prejudice2078 Words   |  9 PagesFEMINIST UNDERTONES IN ‘PRIDE AND PREJUDICE’ Introduction Jane Austen authored the novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in 1813, a period in the social history of England that saw most women as best equipped for the private and domestic realm. An ideal woman was the picture of chastity, innocence and compliancy. Even women authors in this period were expected to adhere to genres that were considered to be solely their domain- the refined arts, householdRead MoreAustralian Films - Screening Responces3687 Words   |  15 Pagesbelieved in the dominance of white culture; Evident in their policies such as The White Australia policy and the policy of Assimilation. The use of real news footage reinforces the pre-existing national identity that constitutes a certain national pride of mate-ship, and honour, especially during times of war. But during time of war, issues of propaganda are also raised. Screening Australianness is debatable in terms of ethical journalism, how public opinion was formed via manipulation, or if publicRead MoreBreaking Bad And Orange Is The New Black3602 Words   |  15 Pagesindustry. Also by critically breaking down character roles, scenes, and themes of both TV series, we can understand how influenced our social understandings and perspectives are. Lastly, by explicitly focusing on the themes of sex, masculinity and femininity, which all formulate the concept of gender as well as exploring the depiction of criminality, this paper will critique how BB and OITNB approach diversity. A contrast between the two series will also be made by evaluating secondary themes such asRead MoreMaking Sence of Homonegativity10662 Word s   |  43 PagesHeterosexual Men and Women s Understanding of Their Own Prejudice and Discrimination toward Gay Men Lisa Margaret Jewell Melanie Ann Morrison a a a University of Saskatchewan, Department of Psychology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Published online: 28 Aug 2012. To cite this article: Lisa Margaret Jewell Melanie Ann Morrison (2012): Making Sense of Homonegativity: Heterosexual Men and Women s Understanding of Their Own Prejudice and Discrimination toward Gay Men, Qualitative ResearchRead MoreGender, Gender And Sexual Orientation Essay2043 Words   |  9 Pageswhile perpetuating in majority of the male characters what the ideal man represents and how that is related to racial issues and sexual orientation in the film. Issues of homosexuality is not only brought up in opposition of masculinity, but also femininity. Thus, American society has an attitude or belief that endorses hyper masculinity in males, but this is not viewed as a positive attribution in African Americans, nor is homosexuality considered a normative behavior. The socialization of gender

The Value Of Wisdom And Experiences - 1339 Words

The Value of Wisdom and Experiences Generally, every individual’s learning experience has its own inspiring and meaningful stories; a learning experience that has its own unique distinctions, interpretations, complications, sacrifices, has its endless possibilities, and most importantly, a learning experience that has its own effective action and optimistic option for execution. For example: In â€Å"The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me,† Sherman Alexie highlights his enjoyment of reading and writing. He claims that as a kid, he reminds himself that he is a â€Å"smart Indian boy† even though it is not recognized on a reservation or even if non-Indian teachers believe that Indian children are stupid. Similarly, in â€Å"Learning to Read and Write,† Frederick Douglass demonstrates that slaves are entitled to have the same rights to learn about reading and writing as any other Americans. He testifies that his masters, including his fellow slaves believe that slavery and education we re not compatible. Moreover, in â€Å"On Keeping a Notebook,† Joan Didion conveys that she masters writing through examining her own writing on a piece of a notebook about herself and other people. Likewise, in â€Å"Learning to Read,† Malcolm X expresses that books are his â€Å"Alma Mater† because he becomes proficient in writing in a course of copying every single word in a dictionary. He clarifies that he develops his skills in reading and writing despite the fact that he is an African-American prisoner.Show MoreRelatedMy Personal Values: Professional Ethics Are the Foundation of Social Work1798 Words   |  7 PagesA career in Social Work requires conviction to personal values that reflect and uphold the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Professional ethics are the foundation of social work, as the trade has an innate obligation to endorse ethical principles and basic values to advocate for the wellness of others. The core value s adopted by all social workers, as distinguished by NASW, are service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationshipsRead MoreThe Qualities Of Becoming Wise Essay1534 Words   |  7 PagesWisdom. Becoming wise is something many people strive for and by definition being wise or having wisdom is the result of a few characteristics such as; â€Å"the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.† This is very true and the aspects of becoming wise/showing signs of having the traits of wisdom is seen here in this definition, yet, only somewhat, in other words it’s incomplete. I disagree with the definition of wisdom and what it is, and I will prove why being wise, showing wisdomRead MoreWisdom: A Philosophical Take Essay978 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: What is Wisdom? When the question, What is Wisdom? is asked, philosophers always have a view from the question. Each philosopher has their own interpretation of what wisdom is. But, what does wisdom really mean? Is it knowledge, science, or just common sense? I believe it is a mixture of all these things and more. There are many books written on the subject; from the dictionary, which defines it, to the Bible and Socrates. Websters New World Dictionary defines the word wisdom as the qualityRead MoreThe Importance Of Integrity And Integrity, Courage, And Wisdom Essay1507 Words   |  7 Pagesplan that will benefit all involved. The three most important concepts from Chapter 3 and 4 are integrity, courage, and wisdom. Group Consensus Integrity Integrity is an essential character quality that defines an effective leader. Integrity is a unifying element; it means more than telling the truth. Integrity is concerned with right and wrong, and adherence to a set of values (Satterlee, 2013, p. 7). In that, integrity speaks on the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles –Read MoreAnalysis Of Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 4511113 Words   |  5 Pagessociety. He realizes that by struggling and suffering, there is wisdom rewarded at the end. This demonstrates how the process of struggling and suffering allow someone to gain wisdom in true learning and knowledge involves struggle to understand, recognizing your own flaws assist in self-improvement, and there are things in the world worth fighting/dying for. Through the path of suffrage and struggle, individuals yield many chunks of wisdom and one of them is true learning and knowledge which involvesRead MoreMy Personal Definition Of Philosophy978 Words   |  4 Pagesreferenced in The Philosopher’s Way by John Chaffee the Greek origin of the work is love and wisdom, philiein, meaning love and Sophia, meaning wisdom. Thus creating a simple definition for philosophy to be the love of wisdom (Chaffee). My personal definition of philosophy would expand on that concept and define it to be, the exploration and examination of thoughts, experiences, and knowledge through wisdom. Philosophy can take a simple concept and dissect the statement not only searching for the depthRead MoreEssay on Context: Wisdom and Antigone812 Words   |  4 Pages Younger people have tended to look towards the elderly for wisdom and guidance since the beginning of recorded history and beyond. Students to teachers, children to parents, ordinary people to royalty and politicians – generally those who have lived longer are not only believed, but expected to have garnered more knowledge in their longer lives. Abraham Lincoln once said, â€Å"I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. Also, in 2008 the Australian newspaper publishedRead MoreKnight And Squire In The Canterbury Tales Essay913 Words   |  4 PagesBecket, in the Canterbury Cathedral. In the prologue, the narrator depicts each character and their demeanor. Two particular characters in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the Knight and Squire, help to exemplify the idea that wisdom and respect come with experience and age. The Knight’s wisdom and maturity above the Squire is proven not only through age, but he also proved his traits through battle and hardships. The narrator tells of the Knight’s voyages, stating that he â€Å"fought when Ayas and Attalia fell†(ChaucerRead MoreThe Theories Of Pleasure And Ethics1544 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom? What is your viewpoint on the basis of morality? Pleasure as we all know is some time of feeling of enjoyment or satisfaction. Human beings can be pleasured in many different ways such as mentally or sexually. Everyone has different but shared values of ethics and how happiness is needed to fuel morality itself. Some interesting gentlemen such, Friedrich Nietzsche and John Stuart Mills were important influential philosophers from the early 19th century. I’ll be comparing both philosophers’ theoriesRead MoreWorldview Approach: Major Values of Lakota Culture from the Book Lame Deer Seeker of Visions by Richard Erdoes1250 Words   |  5 PagesAnthropology. Book Report On Lame Deer Seeker Of Visions In this assignment, the topic I chose is â€Å"Worldview approach: Major Values of Lakota Culture†. It is about the relationship of Lame Deer book and the Lakota. In particular, the topic explores what the Lakota values much and how this is portrayed in the book (Lame Deer Seeker of Visions). In the essay, in exploring this topic, a summary of this book is first given. Second, I do explain why I choose the topic and what I knew about it prior

Consumer Perceptions Of Pawn Shops free essay sample

And in todays volatile economic environment, they can be a saving grace to people who are in need of quick cash but have poor or no credit, no bank account, or no credit card. However, pawn shops are not immune to the effects of the economy, with stiff competition from businesses like payday loans and stringent government regulations. Most notably, they have ongoing image problems, much of which is attributed to how they are portrayed in the media and movies (e. . Pulp Fiction). More recently, a highly successful reality television show set in a pawn shop has increased positive visibility for the industry and the National Pawnbrokers Association (NAP) is hoping to build off of that momentum by undertaking a new promotional campaign. The campaign would have two goals: to improve the image of pawn shops and to get more people to step foot into the stores. In late summer of 2010, the NAP sought the assistance of a Communication Research masters-level class at the university of SST. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN.With help from the class, the NAP would benefit from the findings of ultimate, small, qualitative research studies. The information collected could be useful to the NAP in developing messaging and positioning strategies for a national campaign. This report is a result of one of the qualitative research studies performed. The intent of our study was not to focus on existing pawn shop customers, but rather to gauge general awareness and opinions of pawn shops and their relevance in peoples lives. We were aware that our study sample would likely not reflect the average pawn shop customer.The question we had was whether our study sample would represent potential awn shop customers. Our study focused on knowledge, experience and perceptions of pawn shops, as well as lending and shopping habits. In our analysis, we learned that people did not completely understand the services and value that pawn shops can offer. Additionally, people did not consider them as an option for short-term loans, either because they were not aware of the service or they were not considered counterintuitive as convenient.People did consider pawn shops as a retail shopping option for bargaining and getting good deals. As for general opinions, there was a lot of indifference. People do not seem to care to use them; however, they are not willing to disregard them. This presented a potential opportunity to increase awareness, address common misconceptions and change opinions. We concluded that the only way to do these is to close the education gap. Pawn shops need to better promote their services and find ways to educate consumers. Moreover, pawnbrokers should consider placing an increased emphasis on retail opportunities.As short-term loans are the primary driver of revenue for most shops, we also recommend that they continue providing this service and improve upon it if possible. Research Problem Our team expanded upon the charge provided by the National Pawnbrokers Association (NAP) and developed the following research problem: The negative perception of pawn shops are keeping consumers from using them for lending and/or retail. The purpose of our research project was that of understanding. We wanted to learn more about peoples habits, knowledge and experience with pawn shops and how that influences their perceptions.Methodology We started our research with a preliminary literature review. We reviewed the NAP websites, participated in a conference call with NAP staff, and viewed a previously completed study about pawn shop users. Up to this point, the Naps most reliable source for understanding pawn shop customers was a study done in 1998 by the Credit Research Center School of Business at Georgetown University. The study, called Pawnbrokers in the U. S. : A Profile of Customers, provided an in-depth look at the operations of pawn shops and the characteristics of their customers.While the study provides helpful insight, it is 12 years old. We also created a list of media in which we had seen pawn shops portrayed, including the reality show Pawn Stars and the movie pulp Fiction. From our preliminary research, including the 1998 study and 1 999 Census SHIP data, we were able to learn the characteristics of the average pawn customer. ; Age 36 ; Household income Of $29,000 ; All ethnicities ; 82 percent have a high school diploma or equivalent ; Most are UN-banked or under-banked.We also learned about common misperceptionsmisconceptions, which include: ;Pawn shops are in bad parts of town. ; Pawn shops sell stolen goods. ; Most people think pawning is selling they dont understand the loan. Concept. ; Getting a pawn loan will hurt your credit score. The use of pawn shops contributed to the current financial crisis. ; Pawn shops lower property values in the neighborhoods theyre in. Some other key points that came out of our conference call with the NAP included: ; The biggest challenge for pawn shops is getting customers in the door. Most pawn loans are for unexpected expenses, usually by people living paycheck- to-paycheck. ; Common competition for pawn shops in the lending businesses are payday loan outlets and cash for gold businesses. Competition in the retail business include Crags List (scraggliest. Com), [emailprotected] (eBay. Mom), and used goods stores. Keeping this information and our purpose in mind, we began to discuss the format and content of our survey. We first discussed our unit of analysis, which we determined to be individuals. The sample we used for our research was a sample of convenience.We called on our friends, family and co-workers to participate in our survey sample. Given this, we anticipated that the majority of our sample would comprise mostly middle class people in their ass and ass. Considering our sample, we determined that an online survey would be the most effective format for reaching them. We knew that most of our sample population spent a great deal of time online, particularly on social networking websites, and felt that an online format would be most effective. We then began to discuss question content and order.In order to address the research problem, we focused on the following key topic areas: ;Lending and purchasing habits ; Knowledge of pawn shops ; Experience with pawn shops ; Perception Of pawn shops In determining the question order, we discussed the fact that we needed to know about peoples current behaviors before we could ask about their perceptions of pawn shops. Given that, we used a funnel format, starting with broad base questions on experience and knowledge and then honing in on more specific information.In determining the demographic information to be collected, we considered what information we wanted to cross-tabulate to pull out findings for the NAP. We also took care to provide a wide variety of answer response categories for our demographic questions to ensure our respondents did not feel alienated or turned off from responding. Overall, our survey design embodied the positivist paradigm, focusing on the collection of quantitative data. We chose to focus on quantitative data to low for greater ease in collection and analysis, as well as to accommodate the limited time and sample constraints we were faced with.To do this, we used a variety of question types, but did not use any open-ended questions (with the exception of the option for people to provide detail when selecting other on some questions). Once the survey was complete, we distributed it using a link via email and through messages on Backbone. We each crafted our own tee-up for the survey, but focused on the fact that the survey was on pawn shops, took 5 minutes to complete, and would be anonymous. Anonymity was an important piece to note for our respondents, as we were requesting personal information such as income.In total, the survey was sent to 488 people. 1 13 people responded to the survey, representing a response rate of 23. 26%. Rest Its The majority of respondents were female (68%) and at least part Caucasian (97%). Age was negatively skewed, with most respondents falling between the ages of 26-35 (65%). Most respondents were in the middle- to upper- class, with annual household income relatively evenly dispersed (See Figure 1). Finally, the majority of respondents had a four-year degree (52%).Figure 1: Annual Household Income ending Habits When asked how respondents would deal with an unexpected need for cash, the majority stated they would use personal savings (77%) or a credit card (48%). They rely on friends and family rather than using outside sources (e. G. , bank loan, pawn) to obtain additional funds. Only 17% said they would sell a personal belonging or use it as collateral for a short-term loan. Other options respondents listed included using other investments, such as home equity and bonds. Figure 2 illustrates respondents preferred means of obtaining cash if presented with an unexpected need.Figure 2: preferred Means Of Obtaining Cash if presented with an Unexpected Need #Answer 1 Use personal savings 77% 2 Use credit card 3 Borrow money from a friend or relative 35% 4 Take out a bank loan 17% 5 Sell possession for cash 6 use possession as collateral for a short-term loan 7 Get cash advance on your next paycheck 6% 8 Other (Please list) 4% When asked to rate what is most important in looking for a short-term loan, interest rate was ranked first, followed by repayment time period, ease of lending process and reputation Of lender.Finally, when asked what the minimum amount was for which respondents would consider getting a loan room a pawn shop, 68% said they would not consider taking a short-term loan from a pawn shop. Of those who selected a figure, the majority selected $251-$500 as the minimum amount they would consider pawning. Purchasing Habits The survey found that 89% of respondents had purchased used goods other than a vehicle. Of these, the majority had done so at garage sales (84%) and thrift stores (72%). One particularly interesting finding was that, when examined by gender, pawn shops were the only used good retail outlet frequented more by males than females (See Figure 3). Figure 3: Used Goods Retail Outlet by Gender Establishment Male Female Thrift store 27% Consignment Store 17% 83% Other Used Product Stories% 59% Antique Shop Pawn Shop 53% 47% Graveyard Sale Estate sale In-Person Auction 30% 70% online Communicates Site Other (Please list) 50. 0P. 00% Those who had not purchased used goods stated the primary reason was a preference to purchase new items. Pawn shops will likely not see these respondents in their stores, and there is likely little they can do to change their minds. Knowledge of Pawn Shops The survey showed that 65% of respondents had visited a pawn shop in the past. It also showed that 75% of respondents had bartered during a sale or urarches/p>However, when asked to identify services offered by pawn shops, there were several misconceptions: 0 47% thought pawn sh ops offered payday loans 014% thought pawn shops offered bail bonds 03% thought pawn shops offered auctions Additionally, there was little knowledge of the actual pawn service: while 89% of respondents were aware they could sell something, only 64% were aware that they could get a short-term loan. The retail opportunity was clear: of respondents knew that pawn shops offer retail for used goods. Two respondents made note that they dididntnow what services are available at awn shops.Figure 4 illustrates the percentage of respondents who believed each listed service is offered at pawn shops. Services in red text are not typically offered in the industry. Figure 4: perception Of pawn Shop Services Answer Payday loans 47% Short-term loans using personal property as collateral Auctions 3% Retail for new goods 29% Retail for used goods Exchange of personal property for cash Bail bonds Other (Please list) 2% Experience with Pawn Shops Of the 72 respondents who had visited a pawn shop, only about 57 (79%) actually used a service there.Of those 57, approximately 47 (82%) had urresearchesn item, 20 (35%) had sold an item, and only 1 (2%) pawned an item for a loan. The other 15 people who had visited a pawn shop likely did not do any business there; however, since this was not an option, we cannot be certain. Of those who had visited a pawn shop, 69% rated their experience(s) neutral, and 27% rated the experience either positive or very positive. Only 4% reported a negative experience, indicating that, overall, experiences were more good than bad.Perceptions of Pawn Shops We asked respondents to rate various common beliefs or perceptions of pawn shops identified in our preliminary research. Figure 5 shows the mean ratings (on a five-point scale) for each identified trouble spot, with the highest mean equating to the best rating. The table is sorted from the lowest score to the best. Figure 5: Personal Feelings regarding Pawn Shops Question Mean Pawn shops are a good option for getting a short-term loan. 2. 19 Pawn shops are clean. 2. 71 Pawn shops are safe. 3. 03 Pawn shops are law-abiding. 3. 04 Pawn shop employees are approachable/friendly. . 08 Pawn shops are a good place to shop for used and new goods. 3. 21 The majority of responses were relatively neutral. However, 67% of esexponentsaid that pawn shops are not a good option for getting a short- term loan (disagree or strongly disagree). Only 6% agreed that this was a good option. Of those surveyed, 20% said that pawn shops are not law- abiding. During the course of our research, an anecdotal example of this belief came up. A team members friend that lives in Billings, Montana had her car broken into and various valuable items stolen.When asked if that happens a lot she noted, Break-ins happen all the time in Billings because theres a pawn shop on practically every corner. Its easy to sell stolen stuff. Of those who expressed this opinion, 75% have seen pawn shops portrayed in television and/or movies. This was the strongest correlation found between media portrayal and negative images of pawn shops. However, it is important to note that the majority of people have seen pawn shops portrayed in the media, and general awareness is high. Key Conclusions Based on the survey results, we formulated the following tentative conclusions.It is important to note that these conclusions are tentative, as our survey did not use random sampling. Our conclusions help establish the foundation for our recommendations on how the NPNAPnd pawn shop wnwinnersay potentially improve business. Education Gap One of the primary conclusions is that there is a significant education gap around the need for pawn shops, the services offered, and their relative value in peoples lives. It is important to begin by stating that our results did not identify a lack of awareness of the existence of pawn shops.However, the findings showed that some people think that pawn shops offer payday loans and bail bonds, which are services that pawn shops typically do not provide. Of the services that pawn shops do provide, far more people were aware of the retail opportunities versus the short-term loans. teTersestates In analyzing the participants borrowing habits and preferences, we noted that more respondents listed credit cards as a preferred method over loans, despite the much higher interest rate typically associated with credit cards.If pawn shops can maintain that they consistently provide lower interest rates, beyond just competitive rates, this would be an opportunity to build value and awareness. Lending Preferences Our survey results show that people look to what they know as convenient quick cash options. Pawn shops do not overtly qualify as being convenient or a top-of-mind option. In the case of our participants, they do not represent typical pawn shop customers based on the data provided by the NPNAPMany of these people presumably have the creditworthiness to use bank savings and loans or credit cards.These options seem embedded in the lives of the majority Of the participants, making the need for fast cash a decision Of convenience. The likelihood and amount at which respondents would consider using a pawn shop for a short-term loan suggest that the people we surveyed are not a key demographic for pawn shop loans. If pawn shops are interested in doing business with white, middle- to upper-class young adults, hey should not expect a great deal of loans. Its important to note that reputation of lender was ranked the least important factor when looking for a short-term loan.This indicates the assumed poor reputation of pawn shops would not be as important a factor as cost for those looking for short-term loans. Retail Preferences While the majority of respondents had purchased used goods, pawn shops were not highly used as a used good retail outlet. Because of this, there may be an opportunity to further study the retail side of the business to learn about what types of products people are looking to purchase from places ho sell used merchandise. We also found that many participants have bartered during a sale or purchase.This indicates there is likely no hesitation to visit pawn shops based on fear of the bartering that often takes place during the sales process. Indifference Toward Pawn Shops Our findings suggest that there is more indifference toward pawn shops among those We surveyed as opposed to feelings of disdain and distrust. When it came to personal feelings about pawn shops, the majority of participants felt neutral in all categories ranging from safety, cleanliness and the friendliness of employees. Recommendations We propose the following recommendations to the NPNAPs they work towards improving the image of pawn shops and increasing use. . Promote and educate. To improve general awareness around the value of pawn shops and their potential relevance in peoples lives, we recommend substantially increasing promotion and education about key services, especially short-term lending, as our survey found this is a service of which not many people were aware. Since our survey showed a general feeling of indifference toward pawn shops, the NPNAPhould also look at what can be done to move people toward trtrotterositive feelings about pawn shops in general. . Expand business strategy to focus more heavily on retail shoppers. Business owners are always looking for ways to expand their business into related areas that their same customers want to buy. Our findings suggest that for business growth opportunity, stronger positioning targeted to middle class and upper-middle class men and women as a retail option for used goods is needed. This may include the need for more engaging storefronts, more merchandise options and more consumer-centric service personnel.We recommend examining ptoptionso increase inventory variety, such as building merchandise and managing inventory at a regional level to focus on items that may be popular in a particular neighborhood or region. Pawn shops should also evaluate what type of goods middle-class shoppers are looking for and work to maintain or update their inventory accordingly. 3. Continue to support and retain current loan customers. It is important to state that we are not recommending that pawn shops cannibalize the loan business.We highly recommend keeping this business and retaining current customers as best as possible. Our recommendation is o modestly invest in building this part of the business with the demographic surveyed. Unless pawn shops can maintain that they consistently provide lower interest rates, beyond just competitive rates, the real value proposition is that pawn shops are faster than applying for and receiving a credit card; they do not require complicated paperwork; and they do not affect ones personal credit.And because the loan is backed by merchandise, the person simply loses that item. With bank loans, a person could lose their house or car. LeLearningverall, we felt that an online survey was a great method for our research. We likely would not have been able to collect 1 13 responses had we used an in-person or telephone survey. The online format was relatively hands off, which allowed us to be more effective. It also allowed us to reach people across the country, which we would not have been able to do with in-person surveys.We felt that using FaBackbones a way to distribute our survey was extremely effective. It allowed us to reach a large number of people in a short period of time. It also eliminated any barriers from not having contact information, such as an email address, for potential respondents. However, sing FaBackboneay have limited the age range of respondents. The literature review we completed was extremely helpful in framing our survey. It helped us learn what some common misconceptions were about pawn shops, which helped inform our questions.Had we not done this preliminary research, we may have missed some key issues in our survey. While we feel our survey was designed well overall, there was one question we would have altered if we were to do it over. Question 9 asked, If yes [you have visited a pawn shop], what services have you used? The options were: oPpawnedtem(s) for short-term loan oSsoldtem(s) for cash o Purchased goods However, we did not provide the option of none/just looked. This made it difficult to analyze this question and utilize it as much as we may have liked for cross tabulation. After reviewing the results, we were shocked to see how many of the respondents were white. Although we were unsure of the exact cause, this underscored the importance of having a diverse survey population. It could be that the people of other ethnicities to whom we distributed the survey were not properly motivated to respond for some reason; of course, it is also likely that other ethnicities were simply not well represented in the survey distribution.