2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW2286 Researching Crime and Criminal Justice (for undergraduates)

20 creditsClass Size: 65

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

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

This module is mutually exclusive with

LAW2680

Researching Law

Module replaces

LAW2285 Criminological Research Methods

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module seeks to introduce the main empirical research methods used in the discipline, discuss the different opportunities they afford, the limitations to which they are subject, and provide basic practical experience in their real-world application.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Foster a critical understanding of the manner in which knowledge about crime and criminal justice is generated;
- Examine the strengths and weaknesses of the main quantitative and qualitative research methods used in the disciplines;
- Apply some of those methods independently.

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 to research methods + Qualitative and quantitative research
Social surveys and questionnaire design
Secondary data
Descriptive statistics and graphs
Inferential statistics
Experiments + ethics
Interviewing and focus groups
Qualitative data analysis
Ethnography + document analysis
Sampling methods
Designing a research study + undertaking a literature review

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. 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
Research Proposal	3,000 word research plan	90.00
Written Work	Workbook	10.00
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: 10/08/2020 09:50:03

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