CJM4020

Researching Criminal Justice ( 12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL)

Leader: Sharon Pickering

Offered:
Caulfield First semester 2005 (Evening)

Synopsis: Researching Criminal Justice introduces students to contemporary trends in criminal justice research and to the major methodological approaches in criminal justice research. Researching Criminal Justice equips students with the skills to undertake both qualitative and quantitative criminal justice research and to understand the political and socio-legal implications of conducting criminal justice research within and between criminal justice institutions and with vulnerable populations.

Objectives: Upon completion of CJM4020 students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of various methodological approaches to criminal justice research and its theoretical underpinnings. 2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary trends in researching criminal justice. 3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the structuring of crime, criminal justice and scientific inquiry. 4. Identify and understand a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches to criminal justice research. 5. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of at least two methodological approaches to criminal justice research. 6. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the roles of criminal justice research in the development of criminal justice policy. 7. Design a research strategy appropriate to a research question for a significant piece of criminal justice research. 8. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the ethics approval process for criminal justice research within and between institutions. 9. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the ethical, political and social issues in the conduct of criminal justice research, particularly criminal justice research carried out between institutions and with vulnerable populations.

Assessment: Evaluation of Criminal Justice Research in Criminal Justice Policy Development (3000 words): 30% + Criminal Justice Research Proposal (2000 words): 20% + Criminal Justice Research Project (4000 words): 50%

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 1 hour seminar and 1 x 1 hour workshop) per week

Prerequisites: CJC4000