CM2S056 - Researching Crime, Security and Justice 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | CM2S056 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Researching Crime, Security and Justice | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Policing and Criminology | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Criminology | ||
| Module Leader: | Cheryl Allsop | ||
| Module Team: | Daniel Welch, Helen Martin | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2024 | Final Year of Intake: | 2029 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 5 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | |||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | |||
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2024 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2030 |
Module Aims
The module aims to facilitate an understanding of the role of research and evaluation within the Criminal Justice Sector, whilst introducing students to a grounding in formal research methods in preparation for their final year research project.
Content Summary
This module enables students to prepare, analyse, interpret, and present quantitative and qualitative data. The module is designed to enable students to acquire appropriate research skills in order to understand how to undertake social research:
Background to the use of research and evaluation within the Criminal Justice Sector.
Evidence-based research (the ‘what works’ debate).
The function and role of academic research.
General methodological issues the students will need to consider when planning and undertaking their dissertations:
The use of hypotheses, research questions, aims and objectives.
Qualitative and Quantitative research
Primary and secondary data
Issues of reliability and validity
The difference between monitoring and evaluation, and the use of systematic review.
Research constraints
Ethical issues
Development of an academic bibliography, including referencing
Research ethics and risk assessment.
How to undertake literature reviews.
Different types of research methods and their advantages and disadvantages :
Survey/questionnaires (face to face, telephone, postal);
Observation; focus groups, interviews.
Systematic reviews
Guidance on observation design, focus group design, interview design, questionnaire design: i.e. what makes a good questionnaire, including use of scales.
Sampling (sampling frames): Different types of sampling approaches.
Analysis of data, useful statistical techniques:
Presentation of data.
Collection of data
Interpretation of data
How to put together a research proposal.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 24 |
| Practical Classes and Workshops | 24 |
| Independent Study | 84 |
| Directed Study (including online independent learning) | 68 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Identify the strengths and weaknesses of research methodologies and approaches. |
| LO2 | Propose a criminal justice research proposal using appropriate research techniques, theories and procedures. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 | A written research proposal | 0 | 2000 | 100 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |