ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montclair State University

Justice Studies Department

JUST300-01 Research Methods for Justice Studies Fall 2019

Schedule: Monday and Thursday, 2:30pm to 3:45pm Room: Dickson Hall 278

Professor Lawrence Walsh Home: (570) 994-8985 Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: Dickson Hall 353 - Monday and Thursday 1:00pm to 2:00pm, Wednesday 2:30pm to 4:00pm, and by appointment.

Course Description:

1. Introduction to the principles of empirical research and their application in the law and justice system.

2. Examination of sampling, survey methods, and qualitative fieldwork.

3. Study of strengths and weaknesses of these methods.

4. Attention to methods for agency, program, and individual performance evaluation.

5. A critical approach to understanding and using "facts" about: levels of adult and juvenile crime, causes of crime, public perceptions of crime and punishment, victimization, policing, the courts, and corrections.

Course Goals: overall be a foundation for subsequent course work including criminal investigation, program and performance evaluation, be an "educated consumer" of research, and litigation support.

1. Conduct research ethically

2. Identify variables

3. Develop measures

4. Understand principles and elements of causation

5. Take samples via the appropriate method

6. Gather data via interviews, observation, and surveys.

7. Conduct content analysis of primary records and other secondary sources

8. Evaluate unit and agency performance

Assessment:

1. Assignments done individually outside of class along with Lab Exercises done in class total (10%). Each is assigned a point value. There will be bonus points both individually during class and in team exercises based on the most correct answers in the shortest amount of time.

2. Research Project (50%).

3. Midterm Examination: (20%) based on readings, lectures, class exercises, and assignments.

4. Final Examination: (20%) cumulative, based on readings, lectures, class exercises, and assignments.

Note: Examinations will be closed book, closed notes, calculator including via cell phone may be used. A typed or handwritten reference sheet of your own development consisting of one 8.5” by 11” sheet of paper may be used. Both sides may contain information. You may access the course Power Points via the lab desktop computer. Prior to each exam, a list of potential items will be posted and there will be a review session.

Required

1. Bachman, Ronet and Russell K. Shutt, 2017. Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice 4th ed. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.

2. Bachman, Student Resources included with the text. Free - no access card required. http://study.sagepub.com/bachmanfrccj4e

3. Use of American Psychological Association publication standards.

4. Walsh, Lawrence, 2017. Research Methods for Justice Studies, Oak Ridge, NJ, – a set of PowerPoint Slides, provided.

Course Requirements

1. Attendance: expected for each class, when possible absence should be communicated as soon as possible. Students in organized activities will be accommodated according to University policy. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor and make arrangements to makeup class work, lab exercises, assignments, and exams.

2. Emergency closing procedures: to determine if school is closing due to snow or other emergency, call 973-655-7810 or register with Rave Alert.

3. Assignments: will be communicated in class and on Canvas.

4. Grading Standards: A (97), A- (94), B+ (91), B (88), B- (85), C+ (82), C (79), C- (76), D+ (73), D (70 ), D- (67). No “curve” will be utilized. NOTE: this course is subject to a minimum grade of C- to enroll in JUST497 Internship.

5. Grading rubric: there will be partial credit for short answer questions.

6. Exams missed for a family emergency, serious illness with medical documentation, or National Guard / Military Reserve duty may be made up on the date and time announced.

7. Late assignments and lab exercises must be submitted by the class following your return to class. Work submitted later than that will be penalized 10%.

8. Class participation will be treated as a “plus”.

9. Academic Honesty violations will result in at least a grade of zero for the item involved and possibly an overall grade of Failure for the course.

10. Cell phones are not to be used in class.

11. Check Canvas prior to leaving for MSU each class day for any updates, announcements, reminders. Make sure that you empty your MSU mailbox frequently to avoid missing important emails. Once it is full, it will not accept further emails.

12. Course Schedule: see below.

Academic Honesty and Integrity

(Excerpted from the Montclair State University Code of Conduct)

http://www.montclair.edu/dean-of-students/student-conduct/academic-integrity/

http://www.montclair.edu/policies/academic/policies/academic-dishonesty-policy/

Minimum sanction: Probation; Maximum sanction: Expulsion. Academic Accommodations

Services are available at the Disability Resource Center

http://www.montclair.edu/disability-resource-center/about-our-services/

http://www.montclair.edu/disability-resource-center/contact-us/

Montclair State University Policy on investigating Gender-based Misconduct

It is the policy of Montclair State University to investigate any report of gender-based misconduct, including sexual assault and sexual harassment. Any reports made to the following groups on campus will be held in the strictest of confidence: (Counseling and Psychological Services, Campus Clergy, the Women’s Center, and the University Health Center.) These groups will connect you with support services and help to explore your options.

As a faculty member, I am required by the University to report incidents of sexual misconduct and thus cannot guarantee confidentiality if you report it to me. However, I will respect your privacy and only share this information with those who have a duty to investigate and respond. All reports of sexual misconduct will be investigated by the University’s Title IX Officers with sensitivity. A request for confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible to protect the privacy interests of those involved and balanced against the University obligation to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment to all students.

For more information, including contact information to make a report of gender-based misconduct, and the University’s investigation procedures: https://www.montclair.edu/sexual-harassment/sexual-harassment-complaint-procedures-students/

Class Schedule JUST300-01 Monday and Thursday 2:30pm to 3:45pm

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9/5 Introductions, course operation, review the syllabus, setup class teams, discuss reference sheets, and texts. Why study research methods? Walsh 1-5

Prior to each Class, there will be an announcement in Canvas with an Agenda.

Discuss the Project Project Guidelines

9/9 Scientific Approach Bachman Ch. 1, Walsh 6-14

9/12 Process and Problems Bachman Ch. 2, Walsh 15-20

Research Project Topic due: typed, one inch margins, double-spaced,

Times New Roman 12 point

9/16 Process and Problems: Inductive versus Deductive Bachman Ch. 2

Walsh 21-24

Annotated Bibliography Project Instructions

9/19 Research Ethics Bachman Ch. 3, Walsh 25-31

9/23 Research Ethics and the Milgram Experiment Bachman Ch. 3, Walsh 32-42

9/26 Concepts and Measurement Bachman Ch. 4, Walsh 43-49

Project Step 1: Annotated Bibliography due

9/30 Levels of Measurement Bachman Ch. 4, Walsh 50-58

Validity and Reliability

10/3 Creating Hypotheses and Operationalizing Variables Project instructions

(How to measure, IV, DV, null and alternate hypotheses for each one)

10/7 Sampling Bachman Ch. 5, Walsh 59-68

10/10 Sampling Bachman Ch. 5, Walsh 68-78

Project Step 2: Creating Hypotheses (2) and Operationalizing Variables due

10/14 Review for Midterm Exam Prepare reference sheet

10/17 Midterm Exam Closed book, closed notes, reference sheet permitted

10/21 Sampling: non-probability, sampling error, units of analysis, Bachman Ch. 5

Fallacies in research Walsh 79-88

Sampling techniques summary Project instructions

10/24 Causation and Research Design Bachman Ch. 6, Walsh 89-96

10/28 Causation and Research Design Bachman Ch. 6, Walsh 97-99

Project Step 3: Sampling probability and non-probability techniques due

Class Schedule JUST300-01 Monday and Thursday 2:30pm to 3:45pm

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10/31 Survey Design Bachman Ch. 7, Walsh 100-108

11/4 Survey Design Bachman Ch. 7, Walsh 109-114 Project Instructions

11/7 Observation Bachman Ch. 8, Walsh 126-134

11/11 Interview Bachman Ch. 8, Walsh 135-138

Project Stage 4: Survey Design due

11/14 Interview questions development Project Instructions

11/18 Content Analysis Bachman Ch. 9, Walsh 139-144

Project Stage 5: In-depth Interview Questions due

11/21 Content Analysis Bachman Ch. 9, Walsh 145-148

11/25 Evaluation Bachman Ch. 10, Walsh 149-153

11/28 Happy Thanksgiving – no class

12/2 Evaluation Bachman Ch. 10, Walsh 154-155

12/5 Reporting Results Bachman Ch. 12, Walsh 156-161

12/9 Reporting Results Bachman Ch. 12

12/12 Summary of the Research process

12/16 Review Prepare Reference Sheet

12/19 Final Exam

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RESEARCH METHODS – Primary Steps

1. What do you want to know?

2. Develop the research question

3. Meet Ethical Standards: Institutional Review Board authorization

4. Literature Review

5. State hypotheses

6. Formulate variables

7. Develop measures

8. Identify the population

9. Select data gathering method: survey, interview, observation, experiment, content analysis of a secondary source

10. Select sampling method

11. Take the sample

12. Collect data

13. Prepare for analysis: Coding

14. Entry into SPSS: create the file, enter data

15. Analyze the data

16. Develop findings

17. Draw conclusions

18. Document via thesis, journal article, internal report, public report

Interactive Exercises

1. Types of Research - Crime and Deviance

2. Types of Research - Criminal Justice

3. Variables and Hypotheses - Criminal Justice

4. Levels of Measurement - Crime and Deviance

5. Levels of Measurement - Criminal Justice

6. Sampling Techniques - Crime and Deviance

7. Sampling Techniques - Criminal Justice

8. Survey Research - Crime and Deviance

9. Survey Research - Criminal Justice

10. Content Analysis and Other Types – Crime and Deviance

11. Content Analysis and Other Types – Criminal Justice

https://studysites.sagepub.com/prccj3/crj/beta/engines/index.htm