Criminal Behavior

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Research Paper Guidelines CRM 426

Step 1 Select a Topic The purpose of this project is to provide you with an opportunity to conduct research on a topic related to criminal justice. A list of topics has been provided for you in the course syllabus. Once you have selected your topic you must get it approved by the instructor. Step 2 Writing the Research Report Your Research Paper should contain six major subsections (underlined) that should be labeled as follows: The Abstract An abstract is a single paragraph, without indentation, that summarizes the key points of the manuscript in 150 to 250 words. The purpose of the abstract is to provide the reader with a brief overview of the paper. The abstract, however, should be written last. The Introduction The introduction leads the reader from a general subject area to a particular topic of inquiry. It establishes the scope, context, and significance of the research being conducted by summarizing current understanding and background information about the topic, stating the purpose of the work in the form of the research problem supported by a hypothesis or a set of questions, explaining briefly the methodological approach used to examine the research problem, highlighting the potential outcomes your study can reveal, and outlining the remaining structure and organization of the paper. The introduction should be approximately ½ to one full page in length. You must include in-text and parenthetical citations in APA format. Identify A Problem A research problem is a definite or clear expression [statement] about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or within existing practice, that points to a need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation. The purpose of a problem statement is to:

1. Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. The reader is oriented to the significance of the study.

2. Anchors the research questions, hypotheses, or assumptions to follow. It offers a concise statement about the purpose of your paper.

3. Places the topic into a particular context that defines the parameters of what is to be investigated. 4. Provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates what is probably necessary to

conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information.

The problem statement should be a ½ page in length. You must include in-text and parenthetical citations. The Research Question A research question investigates a specific component of a broader topic. It is the question you are trying to answer when you conduct research on a topic. An example of a research question is as follows: Could the decriminalization of marijuana lead to less crime in the United States? You will be required to write one research question. The Literature Review A literature review surveys books, scholarly articles, and any other sources relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory, and by so doing, provides a description, summary, and critical evaluation of these works in relation to the research problem being investigated. Literature reviews are designed to provide an overview of sources you have explored while researching a particular topic and to

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demonstrate to your readers how your research fits within a larger field of study. In this course, you must use and cite a minimum of five sources with no more than two being web sources (i.e., government reports). Peer-reviewed sources and scholarly articles are strongly encouraged as research sources. Do not use the course textbook as a source. Papers may not be submitted from previous courses to fulfill this requirement. Your literature review should be three full pages in length. The Theoretical Framework Theory is that which explains how things are in reality, as opposed to what we might want them to be.

You have been learning the various types of criminological and sociological theories in this course.

Personal ideologies are of no value in criminological theory unless they can be evaluated scientifically.

We define theory as “an attempt to explain why a particular social activity or event occurs.” A theory is a

generalization about the phenomenon that is being studied.

You will select one to two criminological theories to explain the nature of crime. This section of the research paper should be one full page in length. The Discussion The purpose of the discussion is to interpret and describe the significance of your findings in light of what was already known about the research problem being investigated, and to explain any new understanding or insights about the problem after you have taken the findings into consideration. The discussion will always connect to the introduction by way of the research questions or hypotheses you posed and the literature you reviewed, but it does not simply repeat or rearrange the introduction; the discussion should always explain how your study has moved the reader's understanding of the research problem forward from where you left them at the end of the introduction. The discussion section of your paper will be one full page in length. The Conclusion The conclusion is intended to help the reader understand why your research should matter to them after they have finished reading the paper. A conclusion is not merely a summary of the main topics covered or a re-statement of your research problem, but a synthesis of key points and, if applicable, the place where you recommend new areas for future research. For most college-level research papers, one or two well- developed paragraphs is sufficient for a conclusion, although in some cases, three or more paragraphs may be required. References A citation is a formal reference to a published or unpublished source that you consulted and obtained information from while writing your research paper. The way in which you document your sources depends on the writing style manual your professor wants you to use for the class. All papers in this course are to be written in the American Psychological Association (APA) format.

Grading Rubric Exceptional corresponds to an A- to A (90-100). Performance is outstanding; significantly above the usual expectations. Proficient corresponds to a grade of B- to B+ (80-89%). Skills and standards are at the level of expectation. Basic corresponds to a C to C+ (70-79%). Skills and standards are acceptable, but improvements are needed to meet expectations well.

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Novice corresponds to a D to C- (50-69%). Performance is weak; the skills or standards are not sufficiently demonstrated at this time. 0 This criterion is missing or not in evidence.

Criteria

Ratings

0 Novice Basic Proficient Exceptional

The organization and written quality of the report displays the core value of excellence

The depth of work and research that when into the criminal behavior analysis

The quality of the description of the theories to be used

The accuracy and insightfulness of the application of the theories to explain the criminal behavior of the subject

The professional quality of the Power Point presentation

Score: ______ of 100 Comments: