Besen Article: “Exploitation or Fun” Discussion Questions
1. What is the difference between Objective (positivist) and Subjective (constructivist)
research? What does objective research tells us about the effect of these jobs on workers?
According to Besen, what is the potential pitfall of taking an objective approach to
understanding ”teenage jobs,” especially in the case of jobs occupied by affluent teenagers?
2. What is the main research question guiding the study by Besen? What type of research
question is this?
3. Does this research study follow the inductive or the deductive process? Explain. Why this
process?
4. What were the author’s key research findings? How do these findings differ from the results
of objective research studies on this topic? Why would it have been impossible to obtain the
same data and findings using a different methodology?
5. What are the implications of these findings? For these teenagers future work experiences?
For society?
6. Which of the theoretical philosophies discussed in your textbook (p, 20) best aligns with the
frame of this study? Justify/explain your choice. How did this shape the author’s research
focus? (connects back to question #1)
1. What is the difference between Objective (positivist) and Subjective (constructivist)
research? What does objective research tells us about the effect of these jobs on workers?
According to Besen, what is the potential pitfall of taking an objective approach to
understanding ”teenage jobs,” especially in the case of jobs occupied by affluent teenagers?
2. What is the main research question guiding the study by Besen? What type of research
question is this?
3. Does this research study follow the inductive or the deductive process? Explain. Why this
process?
4. What were the author’s key research findings? How do these findings differ from the results
of objective research studies on this topic? Why would it have been impossible to obtain the
same data and findings using a different methodology?
5. What are the implications of these findings? For these teenagers future work experiences?
For society?
6. Which of the theoretical philosophies discussed in your textbook (p, 20) best aligns with the
frame of this study? Justify/explain your choice. How did this shape the author’s research
focus? (connects back to question #1)
