Final Project

Annotated Bibliography #1

In the Footsteps of a Killer

 

 

The article, titled In the Footsteps of a Killer, begins with a brief introduction by the author, Michelle McNamara. A brief anecdote describes her attempt to track down the Golden State Killer via a pair of cuff links he supposedly stole in 1977. She then continues by revealing that she is one of many “DIY detectives” (McNamara, 3) who attempt to crack cold cases by utilizing previously unavailable sources, like the internet. McNamara’s personal obsession is the Golden State Killer, whom she named for the many rapes and murders he committed all over California from 1976 to 1986. After the introduction McNamara moves on to describe the killer’s history, beginning with the rapes he committed in northern California and escalating to murders he committed in southern California. Throughout this thorough report of the history of the Golden State Killer, McNamara includes the results of her personal investigation and interactions. Descriptions of other internet sleuths, like the ones McNamara calls “the Social Worker” and “the Kid,” reveal the lengths that ordinary people will go to potentially solve a case. “The Social Worker” claims to have spent years dedicated to tracking down the Golden State Killer, while “the Kid” claims to have spent as much as 4,000 hours researching the case and potential leads. Others, like detective Larry Pool and former detective Larry Crompton, have dedicated almost their entire lives to the case. This obsession is later emphasized by McNamara’s response to the frequently asked question of whether or not she is worried that the killer is still out there. Her response, “‘He can’t hurt me,’ I say, not realizing that in every sleepless hour in every minute spent hunting him and not cuddling my daughter, he already has” (McNamara, 11), displays how the influence a serial killer has on lives extends long after the investigation has been closed.

 

While the magazine that published this article, the Los Angeles Magazine, is not exactly the most credible source, the author provides photographs of the evidence she writes about in the article and names the law officers she talks with. The fact that it appears in Galileo also contributes to its credibility.

 

This article relates to my research because it deals indirectly with the field I eventually hope to get into, forensic psychology. It discusses multiple elements that can relate back to this field, such as criminal profiling. This article provides an example of how forensic psychology has permeated our culture and captured public interest. It is also an example of how the public can easily get involved with and actually help forensic investigations.

 

Source: MCNAMARA, M. (2013). In the FOOTSTEPS of a KILLER. Los Angeles Magazine, 58(3), 134.

 

 

Annotated Bibliography #2

Perception and Prevalence of Domestic Violence in the Study Population

 

This article consisted of information from a survey conducted in an Indian hospital about domestic violence, or DV for short. It interviewed 303 men and women from all different socioeconomic standings. Notable results from the study include the realization that psychiatric patients were not more likely to commit domestic violence than the general population and the fact that women and the young are more likely to be victims of domestic violence. Another shocking result from the study displays how few people have actually heard of domestic violence, saying that “on asking the participants about their awareness pertaining to domestic violence, without probing them, 57% of the study population was aware about domestic violence and that it existed in society; 42.7% of the participants had never heard the words domestic violence” (Page 3). The study also obtained results about how domestic violence is perceived and what form of violence is most prevalent. The article concluded by noting that a disturbing amount of subjects in the sample did not have even basic knowledge of domestic violence, saying that “apart from the high prevalence of domestic violence in the present era, it is evident from the study that the participants’ perception about domestic violence was low” (Page 1). The article also suggested that “efforts should be made to raise public consciousness and reporting of domestic violence and its attendant consequences” (Page 1), meaning that better domestic violence awareness programs should be implemented all around the world.

 

I found this source to be credible for several reasons, the main one being that this study was conducted by multiple scientists from the accredited Industrial Psychiatry Journal. The article also had all of its sources cited and had many tables displaying the results of the study, giving it an overall feeling of credibility. This credible research will help greatly in writing my paper, with the statistics being very useful. They can serve as examples of how the general population views domestic violence, not just the people of India. I could also use this information as an example of how people should not deal with domestic violence, i.e. not reporting it due to social stigmas as many people in this survey claim they have done.

 

Source: Shah, Sandeep H., et al. "Perception And Prevalence Of Domestic Violence In The Study Population." Industrial Psychiatry Journal 21.2 (2013): 137-143. Business Source Complete. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.