GETTING INTO THE GANG - METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN STUDYING ETHNIC GANGS

A review of recent studies on ethnic youth gangs in the US is conducte d and focuses particularly on whether and how ethnicity and culture ar e considered in theory and method construction. The general and ethnic specific methodological issues in studying gangs with a qualitative a pproach are examined. These methodological issues are then explored in relation to the research process and experiences from a three year et hnographic study of gangs in the African American, Hispanic and Asian American communities.