Unit name | Critical Skills for Social Scientists: Criminology |
---|---|
Unit code | SPOL10028 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Mike McBeth |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit will introduce students to key study and research skills relevant to their discipline and will provide a foundation to the 2nd year Social Research Methods unit. The first part of the unit will provide students with essential study skills in critical thinking, reading, and writing. It will introduce them to the Harvard referencing system and strategies for plagiarism avoidance. The second part of the unit will introduce students to criminological research methods. Set in the context of relevant political and theoretical debates, the unit will explore the uses of data and research in criminology and examine how data shapes understandings of criminological problems. It will also introduce students to different approaches (e.g. quantitative, qualitative), research design and sampling, methods of data collection (e.g. interviews, surveys), methods of analysis (e.g. statistical analyses, thematic analysis), and the particular ethical issues relevant to their discipline. Specifically, the unit will:
Teaching will be delivered through blended learning involving a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures, practical activities supported by study-group sessions and self-directed exercises.
Summative assessment:
Portfolio Part 1 (1000 words) (40%)
Portfolio Part 2 (2000 words) (60%)
Learning outcomes 1 and 2 are assessed through Portfolio Part 1; Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 are assessed through Portfolio Part 2.
Caulfield, L. (2014) Criminological Research for Beginners: A Student's Guide, London: Sage
Cottrell, S. (2013) The Study Skills Handbook (Palgrave Study Skills), London: Palgrave
Davies, P., Francis, P., and Jupp, V. (2011, 2nd ed) Doing Criminological Research, London: Sage
King, R. and Wincup, E. (2000) Doing Research on Crime and Justice, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Walters, R. (2003) Deviant knowledge: criminology, politics and policy, Cullompton: Willan
Wincup, E. (2004) Criminological Research: understanding qualitative methods, London:Sage