Tuesday, 2:30-5:20
According to the course definition, CRJU 3213 examines “[m]ethods and techniques of research in the behavioral sciences; historical development of psychological and social research; techniques and problems.”
The class format is a combination of lecture and class discussion, emphasis on discussion. Questions are strongly encouraged.
Course Goals
The Student should gain and retain the skills and abilities to integrate and synthesize the basic elements of research methodology and statistics for the purposes of conducting criminal justice and criminological research.
Three exams will be given during the semester and will include multiple choice, true-false and short answer questions.
A research proposal (a.k.a. research prospectus) is considered to be the “term paper” for the course. The prospectus is a paper asserting how you would perform the research if indeed you were going to do the research. For the purposes of this course, there will be no need to do the actual research, but rather only to formulate the research methodology on the basis of a full literature review of your topic and the textbook readings.
The prospectus consists of three sections: (1) an abstract, (2) literature review, and (3) a research methodology section.[1] As each section of the proposal is completed the student is invited to turn it in to the professor for editorial review. The Student is strongly encouraged, but is not required, to re-write the section for the possibility of an improved grade per the editorial comments made by the professor.
The required referencing style is APA. Guidelines for APA referencing are available at the American Psychological Association website (www.apa.org). Papers should be:
The proposals will be graded individually by section (i.e., abstract, literature review, and research design sections) and then the total taken for all three sections will be added for the final proposal grade. The abstract will be graded on the ability of the student to succinctly relate the proposal’s content in less than 250 words (but more than 100). The literature review section will be graded on the ability of the student to demonstrate to the instructor that s/he has performed a thorough and comprehensive review of the literature regarding the proposal’s topic, utilizes APA referencing, is free of grammatical and spelling errors, and is succinct. The research design section will be graded on the ability of the student to demonstrate that s/he is cognizant of the best method to perform the research, and the limitations thereunto, and can the utilize research terminology to convey to the instructor the research methodology.
10% will be deducted from the final proposal grade for each day the final proposal is late.
Five (5) quizzes will be given at random intervals during the semester and will test the Student’s ability to recall both basic and in-depth facts about the readings and lecture material covered from the semester’s initiation or from the most recent quiz.
[1]Sample proposals will be distributed in class.
Research Proposal 20%
Abstract-------------(10%)
Literature Review-(45%)
Methods Design---(45%)
Exam I 20%
Exam III 20%
Quizzes 10%
Total 100%
Tape recorders and other recording devices are allowed in the class at any time.[1] However, all material presented by the instructor is copyright protected and the unauthorized reproduction of lecture material outside the class is subject to copyright laws.
Pagers, cell phones, and other communication devices should be turned off during class, with the exception of students whose careers require them to do otherwise.
Students are permitted to miss three (3) hours of class with no penalty. Class participation and attendance, like the quizzes, are the difference between an A and a B for the final course grade. Class participation is weighted differently than class attendance. It is expected that Students do not miss a class for any reason other than that approved by the University or the instructor, such as a medical emergency, illness, death in the family, etc. It is further expected that the Student will contact the instructor when a class is going to be missed, lest there be consequences and repercussions. Roll will be taken at random intervals during the semester.
Students with a disability which affects their academic performance are expected to arrange for a conference with the instructor in order that appropriate strategies can be considered to ensure that participation and achievement opportunities are not impaired.
Each student is expected to abide by the rules of academic honesty as defined in the student handbook. Cases of academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade for the course and a letter to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services requesting that you be withdrawn from the University. If there are any questions as to whether an action is academically dishonest please consult with the professor.
WebCT will be utilized in this course to provide supplemental materials to the class. On some days, the class will meet via WebCT rather than in the classroom. Please log-in to WebCT ASAP and check it prior to each class meeting.
[1]The instructor reserves the right to ask that recorders be turned off.