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CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH METHODS
This course presents an overview of the research process. Its primary objective is to provide students sufficient fluency in statistics and research methodology to make appropriate use of scholarly journals in criminal justice and criminology. Students learn to frame research questions, formulate hypotheses, collect, analyze and display data, arrive at supportable conclusions and present their findings. Students are exposed to measurement issues and concepts, learn to use descriptive statistical techniques and are introduced to sampling and hypothesis testing.
Required text
Statistics for Criminal Justice and Criminology in Practice and Research: An Introduction, by Jack and Jerry Fitzgerald (Sage Publications, 2013).
Required calculator
Beginning the second week students must bring an inexpensive, solar-powered calculator with no special functions except a square root key (available for $5-10).
YES! ------ NO!
Cell phones and scientific or graphing calculators are not permitted while taking exams. Please bring the required calculator to every class session so that you can follow along with the instructor and participate in class exercises.
Cell phones and laptops
This class requires intensive participation and interaction with the instructor. Except students with disabilities, NO USE OF LAPTOPS OR ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN CLASS. Cell phones are fine if kept on silent mode. If you need to make or answer a call please step outside. You may return when done.
Why the rule? For an illustrated reason, click here.
Special notice about exams and online materials
The website has links to the PowerPoint slides used in class and supplemental materials. These, plus the text, class discussion and student presentations are all fair game for exams. Here's the best rule: if it's mentioned in class, it's important.
There is no guarantee that the website will always be "up." Final versions of slide shows may not be posted until the day of class.
Exams are prepared with those who come to class in mind. Neither an exam date nor grading will be adjusted because the website went down.
Examinations
Three exams covering concepts and statistics. Required non-scientific calculators must be used during exams. No cell phones or other gizmos - required calculators only!
If illness keeps you from taking an exam on the scheduled date, please e-mail the instructor. Makeups must be taken during the next class session, of if the student is still ill, by the end of the week following the week during which the exam was given. Only ONE of the first two exams can be "made up." Makeups are not allowed for the final. Students who have done well on the midterms but cannot take the final due to a bonafide emergency may, at the instructor's option, be allowed an "I"ncomplete.
Each exam is a mandatory component of the course. To earn a grade higher than "F" every exam must be taken.
Presentations
Each student will make three presentations. For instructions click here.
Participating in a panel and making presentations are required components of the course. Failure to complete any assignment will result in a term grade of "F".
Grading
100 points can be earned. Each exam and each panel presentation count 15 points (5 for the slides, 5 for the cards and 5 for the presentation.) The remaining 10 points are earned by coming to class on weeks 14 and 15 (5 points for each day; no makeups possible.) Term grades will be assigned using the conventional scale (A=90, B=80, C=70, D=60, F=59 or lower), curved as necessary to reflect class performance. Plus/minus grading is NOT used.
Any instance of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism or cheating, will result in a grade of zero or "F" for that activity, and/or a term grade of "F", and/or referral to the Dean.
It is the instructor's policy to not change grades except for a computational error. Students who wish a good grade or plan to attend law school or graduate school are encouraged to work as hard as possible. Please do not ask for special consideration.
Please note that for this course to count towards Criminal Justice degree requirements students must earn a grade of "C" or above.
Weekly schedule
Please bring an approved calculator to every class session
Cell phones, computers, etc. cannot be used in place of a calculator
WEEK 1 - 1/30
First half: Research process, concepts, variables - slide show
Second half: Cont'd. Students assigned to panels. Journal articles - slide show
Book chapters: 1 & 2
Click here for a good reference source on validity and reliability
Note: Students will be e-mailed their journal articles. Read the first part - everything through the literature review. Be sure you understand the hypothesis, the main variables, what is being studied and why. PRINT OUT your entire article and bring it with you to each class session.
WEEK 2 - 2/6
First half: Measurement and central tendency - slide show - homework - answers
Second half: Cont'd. Panels meet with instructor.
Book chapters: 3 & 4
WEEK 3 - 2/13
First half: Variability - slide show - homework - answers
Second half: Cont'd. Panels meet outside class.
Book chapters: 4 & 5
Download, print and bring to class: Z-table
WEEK 4 - 2/20
First half: Panels 1-5 present
Second half: Panels 6-10 present
WEEK 5 - 2/27
First half: Exam 1 (weeks 1-4) - bring the Z-table and an approved calculator
Second half: Sampling - slide show
Book chapters: 2 & 7
WEEK 6 - 3/6 - Research designs - slide show - terminology
Book chapter: 2
WEEK 7 - 3/13
First half: Relationships between categorical variables - slide show - homework - answers
Second half: Relationships between continuous variables - slide show - homework - answers
Book chapters: 8 & 11
WEEK 8 - 3/20
First half: Panels 1-5 present
Second half: Panels 6-10 present
WEEK 9 - 3/27
First half: Exam 2 (weeks 5-8) - bring an approved calculator
Second half: Introduction to inferential statistics - slide show
WEEK 10 - 4/3 - SPRING BREAK
WEEK 11 - 4/10 - Confidence intervals - slide show - homework - answers
NOTE: Begin studying the final part of the article.
WEEK 12 - 4/17 - Hypothesis and significance testing - 't' test for diff. betw. means - slide show - homework - answers
NOTE: Print Appendix Table F and bring to class. Finish studying the final part of the article. Make sure you are familiar with the tables and conclusions.
WEEK 13 - 4/24 - Chi-Square - slide show - homework - answers
NOTE: Print Appendix Table E and bring to class.
WEEK 14 - 5/1 - Other tests of significance - reading tables - slide show
NOTE: All panel members must finalize their slides prior to next week! Deadline for requesting images of tables in articles from instructor. Roll call, attendance worth 5 points.
WEEK 15 - 5/8
First half: Week 14, cont'd
Second half: Panels bring completed slides for week 16 on a flash drive for pre-approval. Roll call, attendance worth 5 points
WEEK 16 - 5/15 - Final exam preview
First half: Panels 1-5 present
Second half: Panels 6-10 present
WEEK 17 - 5/22 - 5:00-6:50 pm - FINAL EXAM (weeks 9-16) - bring Appendix Tables D, E and F and an approved calculator
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