While I understand your thesis is titled "a case study analysis", I see little benefit to society from such an endeavor unless there is a companion study on non-urban (rural, suburban, etc) youth... potential risks
Different people see little benefit to different TV shows or styles of painting or certain software apps. Personally, I think it's not a good idea to judge something so harshly based on a one-paragraph description. Not to mention that analysis of case studies is the basis of many areas of research. For example, an analysis of case histories is essential to understanding diseases (and even to identifying a disease as being distinct when it's never been seen before).
As for risks, a major part of IRB approval is to judge risks. In fact, the entire process is structured to assess different levels of risk (e.g. experimental surgery or a drug candidate = high risk; a blood draw = low risk). The risk level for a survey depends on what's being surveyed. Walden's website says that their IRB complies with 45 CFR 46 (look it up).
Your dissertation sounds as though it will consist of anecdotal evidence, and not be based on empirical evidence. Therefore I have a concern for an incomplete picture. Some may call this bias.
Not sure what you mean here. Suggest you do a bit of serious reading on survey studies. Example:
this file. Also,
this page on qualitative vs. quantitative studies is more basic. Not to mention that, knowing very little about Brad's methods, you're not in a position to call his work biased (that job goes to his supervisor, his thesis committee, and peer reviewers). I suspect that you're not a scientist or a professional with experience in this area, meaning that you probably don't have the experience to judge his methods. Sometimes, when we lack knowledge about an area, it's easy to think that something is one way, when in fact, it isn't --- but you need experience in the field to understand it.
I don't know much about Brad's research, and therefore I can't judge it. Again, that's his supervisor, et al.'s job.
As an alternative, could you consider a literature review? Would that meet the criteria for your dissertation?
People who haven't done a Ph.D. often don't know that the degree requires original research (to be worth the paper it's written on, anyway). A literature review is simply one part of what's required to get the degree. It's usually the opening chapter in a thesis (depends on the style of the thesis).
Brad, have you tried contacting Mensa (local or national groups)? They might be willing to forward your message to their members.
