2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW2286 Researching Crime and Criminal Justice (for undergraduates)

20 creditsClass Size: 78

Module manager: Dr Jose Pina-Sanchez
Email: J.PinaSanchez@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is mutually exclusive with

LAW2680

Researching Law

Module replaces

LAW2285 Criminological Research Methods

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

The objectives of this module are to:
- introduce students to qualitative and quantitative social research methods;
- critically evaluate the validity and reliability of different social research tools;
- introduce students to quantitative data analysis using SPSS;
- provide students with the opportunity to design and undertake small scale research projects.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the manner in which knowledge about crime and criminal justice is generated;
- evaluate the appropriateness of research strategies, when applied to a particular research question;
- analyse a variety of data sources, both qualitative and quantitative in nature;
- undertake their own research and present the findings.

Skills outcomes
Subject specific skills:
- Ability to identify and critically assess the methods used in criminological research projects;
- Basic skills in planning and undertaking criminological research projects.

Syllabus

Introduction
Data and Theory
Sampling Methods
Survey Research
Questionnaires
Secondary Data, Variables and Descriptive Statistics
Introduction to Data Analysis Using SPSS
Ethics
Experiments
Research in Action
Qualitative Methods
Interviews
Ethnography
Document Analysis
Comparative Research
Planning Research

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Computer Class	1	1.00	1.00
Computer Class	4	2.00	8.00
Seminars	3	2.00	6.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	1	1.00	1.00
Private study hours			174.00
Total Contact hours			26.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Much of the private study will be directed. This will be constituted by normal seminar preparation (i.e. specific readings) as well as three specific assignments that composed the coursework. Tasks will include practical activities, such as conducting qualitative interviews or designing and analysing a victimisation survey, as well as critical tasks, such as reading a piece of research and analysing data using SPSS. As well as this directed learning, students will be expected to read for every lecture and seminar independently.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

This can be done through standard means, such as seminars and assessment, as well as through the more innovative use of seminar based coursework. These tasks will be conducted either in preparation for specific seminars. This form of assessment will enhance the extent to which students can seek and gain feedback as they are going through the module (rather than at the end in a purely summative fashion).

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	1 x 5 specific questions to answer using SPSS	25.00
Presentation	1 x group presentation covering reporting the research steps taken to answer a given research question using qualitative interviews and a software package	25.00
Research Proposal	1 x 3,000-word research plan	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 01/11/2019

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