Program Overview

LCRM303 - Criminology Research Project

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

The LCRM303 unit is designed to extend students' existing knowledge of research methodologies in criminology. It aims to develop skills necessary for undertaking scholarly research in criminology to a standard worthy of publication in an academic journal. This unit builds on the knowledge, comprehension, and skills introduced in LCRM301, with the intention of developing students' scholarship and research skills in criminology.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

1. Describe data analysis techniques, ethical concerns, and other issues relating to conducting research.
2. Apply, identify, and justify the use of appropriate research methods for a criminological research project.
3. Present a fully developed research project suitable for examining a criminological problem in society.
4. Apply and interpret data analyses, research methods, and identify and resolve ethical concerns.

Content

Topics covered in this unit include:

• Ethics matters
• Writing a research proposal, identifying and understanding appropriate methods
• Analysing content: Research using secondary, historical, and comparative data and content analysis
• Analysing quantitative data
• Analysing qualitative data
• Summarising and reporting research

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

The assessment tasks are designed to address the identified learning outcomes for this unit. They include:

1. Single Summative Quiz (Multiple Choice): This assessment encourages students to engage with the unit content and develop an understanding of statistical analyses and data outputs. (Weighting: 10%)
2. Exam: This assessment requires students to complete a closed-book exam that will assess their knowledge of unit content, including a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer responses. (Weighting: 40%)
3. Research Paper: Students are required to produce a substantive research work that brings together the sum of all coursework, resulting in a research paper of approximately 5000 words that may be worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal article. (Weighting: 50%)

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit comprises 150 hours of study, taught over a 12-week semester or ACU Online 10-week asynchronous delivery mode. The learning strategy includes:

• Lectures and tutorials in the first half of the semester
• Supervision seminars in the second half of the semester
• Online webinars, podcasts, readings, discussion forums, etc.

Representative Texts and References

• Bachman R D & Schutt R K, The practice of research in criminology and criminal justice. Sage publications, California, 2020
• Berg L B & Lune H, Qualitative research methods for the social sciences (8th ed.). Pearson Education Limited, Essex, 2014
• Field A, Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th ed.). Sage publications, UK, 2017
• Hunter R, Dantzker M & Quinn S, Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice , 4th edition, 2016
• Bachman R & Schutt R, Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice - International Student Edition, 7th edition, 2019
• Gau J, _Statistics for Criminology & Criminal Justice, _3rd edition, 2018
• Wincup E, Criminological Research: Understanding Qualitative Methods, 2nd edition, 2017
• Bachman R & Paternoster R _, Statistics for Criminology & Criminal Justice _, 4th edition, 2016
• de Lint W, LexisNexis Quick Reference Card - Criminology, 2015
• Noaks L & Wincup E, Criminological Research, 2004
• Gadd D, Karstedt S & Messner S, eds., The SAGE Handbook of Criminological Research Methods , 2011
• Kraska P, Brent J & Neuman W, Criminal Justice and Criminology Research Methods , 3rd edition, 2020

Credit Points and Year

• Credit points: 10
• Year: 2026