2021/22 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW2286 Researching Crime and Criminal Justice (for undergraduates)

20 creditsClass Size: 78

Module manager: Dr Matt Tidmarsh
Email: M.J.Tidmarsh@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

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

Private study hours			200.00
Total Contact hours			0.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

The School is committed to providing an excellent student education and experience. This will involve a variety of teaching methods and follow a blended learning model, including meaningful on-campus in-person teaching for all students. Further information regarding teaching delivery will follow.

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
Online Assessment	Online test	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: 11/01/2022

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