Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice

Brief Paper Outline

1. Introduction/Problem statement (general literature to specific point)

2. Brief review of literature (what does existing research say about your topic?)

Create the hypotheses you will test (based on the literature review) and place at the end of

the section.

3. Method

Information on the surveys and their methodologies is available in the course Blackboard

site.

Describe the variables you will use based on your hypotheses.

Use one dependent variable, one independent variable and three control variables.

Specify the type of statistical analysis you intend to perform and justify it.

4. Analysis (State your hypothesis. Describe your analysis and findings)

5. Conclusions (what did you find, what are the implications for policy, theory, other research)

Reminder:

Your paper is limited to 12 pages, excluding the Reference section and cover page.

Use APA style and formatting guidelines for: (a) in-text citations, (b) reference section,

(c) headings, and (d) formatting (One inch margins, double-spaced text, Times Roman

12-point font).

Do not include an abstract.

Paper Outline & Suggestions

1. Introduction/Problem statement (general literature to specific point)

Introduce your problem indirectly. Don’t launch into it immediately.

One good approach is to begin with a statement about societal problems (crime is almost

always one of those), go to a discussion of crime, and then perhaps to your problem.

This section should be no longer than 1 page in length.

2. Literature Review – a brief review of literature (what does existing research say about your

topic?)

You have room to review no more than 4 research studies.

It should be no longer than 3 pages in length.

Your research review is designed to tell you what to expect from your variables; thus, if

should also indicate what your hypothesis(es) should be.

Consider that previous research results will be something to reflect on when you write up

your conclusions at the end of your paper.

Create the hypothesis(es) you will test (based on your literature review). This/these

should be one of the last things found in the literature review.

3. Method - Information on the surveys and their methodologies is available in the course

Blackboard site. You have permission to copy it directly into your paper — it is not

plagiarism under these highly limited conditions (but otherwise would be).

Describe the variables you will use (that includes their level of measurement)

Use one dependent variable, one independent variable and three control variables.

Specify the type of statistical analysis you intend to perform and justify it. Title this

section of your paper “Plan of Analysis.”

The entire Method section should be no longer than 4 pages in length. I encourage you to

be concise when writing this portion of your paper.

4. Analysis (State your hypothesis. Describe your analysis and findings.)

Restate your hypothesis(es) and test it/them

First, test for a independent/dependent relationship with bivariate techniques.

Follow up with a multivariate technique

For categorical variables consider layering. For nominal/simple ordinal cross-

tabulation procedures requires each control variable be layered one at a time.

Use multiple regression for continuous dependent variables.

Use binary logistic regression for binary categorical dependent variables.

5. Conclusions (what did you find, what are the implications for policy, theory, other research)

What were your results?

How do they match up with your hypotheses?

How do they match up with the studies in your literature review?

What do the findings mean for policy, theory, and/or research?

Reminder:

Your paper is limited to 12 pages, excluding the Reference section and cover page.

Use APA style and formatting guidelines for: (a) in-text citations, (b) reference section,

(c) headings, and (d) formatting (One inch margins, double-spaced text, Times Roman

12-point font.).

Do not include an abstract.