Course Catalogue

Justice Studies

To enable students to develop the skills required to design and undertake their own original, work-based research project. The module will enable students to develop an advanced and critical knowledge of the key ontological, epistemological and methodological issues that impact upon research into criminal justice practice. The curriculum will allow students to generate a critical appreciation of diverse approaches to conducting research, methods of data collection and analysis and use real world case studies of research projects to advance student's appreciation of the logistical, political and ethical issues related to the operation of good quality social research. By the conclusion of the module students will be well equipped to embark on their own work-based research project.

Outline Syllabus:Block A – Approaching Research into the criminal justice system and its actors; - The Usage and Purpose of Social Research; Whilst in time the programme's focus will sharpen upon criminal justice research specifically the session will identify the value and contribution research can make to learning and knowledge in addition to the need advance policy and practice development - Research Design and Philosophies of Conducting Research; In this session the basics of research design are explored and case studies of criminal justice relevant research projects are used to help illustrate the need to think through and continually re-assess the logistics and ambitions of research projects - The Political and Ethical dimensions of conducting work-based research; In this session case studies are used and guidance from research methods texts are drawn upon to help develop a fuller appreciation of the ethical dilemmas work-based research encounters from the design of the project, through the research activity and into its writing up. Within work-based research especially we need also to be mindful of the politics of the design and conducting of research activity and to develop a critical understanding of the dimensions of power exercised/experienced by those who participate in the research and those who will consume the findings. - The In-service Practitioner's Experience of engaging in research activity – A number of speakers are used to talk about their experiences of completing academic qualifications and conducting work-based research whilst being employed 'in service'. These first-hand accounts will reflect upon the processes of project idea development, making informed methodological choices, and the experience of managing research. Block B - Methods of researching the criminal justice system and its actors Throughout the sessions that constitute this part of the module the students will engage with a series of 'tales from the field' inputs with guest speakers profiling their own on-going or recently completed research to help develop student's understanding of the reality of designing and conducting social research. - Qualitative Research: introduction, principles and practice - Qualitative Research: ethnography and participation observation - Qualitative Research: qualitative interviewing techniques and qualitative documentary analysis - Qualitative Data Analysis - Quantitative Research: introduction and sampling issues - Quantitative Research: The fundamentals of crime analysis - Quantitative Research: structured interviews, self-completion questionnaires and structured observation - Quantitative Research: Quantitative Data Analysis - Quantitative Research: Using SPSS to analyse data (IT Suite based teaching) Block C – Planning Work-based research projects - Writing Research proposals - Formative peer review of research proposals and project ideas

Module Overview:
This module, designed with 'in-service' policing, probation and criminal justice professionals in mind, seeks to develop your knowledge and understanding of the research methods used in the design, conducting, and delivery of good quality social research. Through engaging with real world research case studies you will have the opportunity to develop your learning around the demands of constructing and operationalising research questions. These insights will help you consider, and plan for, the very real practical and methodological challenges of conducting work-based research.

Additional Information:This module, designed with 'in-service' policing, probation and criminal justice professionals in mind, seeks to develop the student's knowledge and understanding of the research methods used in the design, conducting, and delivery of good quality social research. Through engaging with real world research case studies students will have the opportunity to develop their learning around the demands of constructing and operationalising research questions. These insights will help students consider, and plan for, the very real practical and methodological challenges of conducting work based research.