AZA4743 - Theoretical perspectives of conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice - 2018

Theoretical perspectives are presented as conceptual frameworks, for instance, causal explanations to identify cause and effect relationships between crime and victimisation phenomena, structural, process and systemic perspectives to emphasise the manner in which the phenomena are interrelated and constitute a whole, system or sub-system, and interpretive approaches to focus on the meaning attributed to particular contexts. Analyses of theoretical perspectives, including a postmodern orientation, refer also the scope and level of a theory to construct different levels of social reality. Finally, the theoretical grounding of research is discussed and evaluated.

The objectives lie within five inter-related bands. These concern:

1. factual information
2. sources and resources
3. conceptual definitions
4. academic debates
5. analytic communication skills. Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with the following types of information, academic perspectives and skills:
   1. Understand the theoretical study field of conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice
   2. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate diverse theoretical approaches to conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice.
   3. Apply theoretical knowledge of conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice to particular contexts
   4. Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation when studying theoretical perspectives of conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice
   5. Use appropriate science and technology ethically, effectively and responsibly when studying theoretical perspectives of conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice without harming society, the environment or individuals
   6. Work and communicate with others as a member of a multi-disciplinary when studying theoretical perspectives of conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice

Within semester assessment: 65% + Exam: 35%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 288 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Criminology and criminal justice - South Africa