Questions (AllRoundBest Tutor)

CONTENT TRANSCRIPT

Page 1© University of Phoenix 2014 CJA/345 Week One Listen to me first

Audio podcast discussing the main topics and objectives for each week.

ID: 02-AUDIO-539f3d28d04694245225aa28 CJA/345 Week One Listen to me first

RECORDED ON

Jun 16, 2014

COPYRIGHT

2014

TAGS

criminal justice, procedure, CJA/345, listen to me first, podcast

Week One Listen To Me First

Speakers: Narrator, SME

Narrator: Welcome to the Week One podcast for CJA/345, Research Methods and Evaluation. Each week, we’ll talk with a Subject Matter Expert who will provide a brief overview of the weekly objectives and how you can apply them in criminal justice and security. This week, we’ll discuss research in criminal justice.

So what is research?

SME: Research within criminal justice encompasses acollection of social science methods applied systematically to generate increased knowledge about certain criminal justice phenomena.

Narrator: And why is research relevant?

SME: All researchers conduct research for a variety of reasons. Some people research just to research, while others conduct research because they have specific questions and are seeking answers. Some conduct research because they have identified a problem and they want to find solutions, and make improvements to a particular aspect of the criminal justice system.

Research in this field is extremely critical, as it helps generate more knowledge about a range of possible objects of study, such as topics, activities, issues, questions, and trends that revolve around crime, crime control, and the criminal justice system.

Narrator: Who are the researchers in this field?

SME: Researchers are made up of several professions. They can include, but are not limited to, academic professors, expert witnesses, employees of government agencies, practitioners who provide treatment in the field, journalists, and, of course, students. Collectively, each of these roles can contribute meaningful information to the field that can help increase understanding about a particular phenomenon.

Narrator: What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?

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Page 2© University of Phoenix 2014 CJA/345 Week One Listen to me first

SME: Essentially, research is divided into two main sections, quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative research uses numbers, while qualitative research uses words. The efficacy of both forms of research has been debated within the research community. The argument is centered on the question of which form is better and more reliable at collecting data and which form yields more significant and meaningful results. While it may appear that these forms are in opposition, they can be used together as part of the research process. For example, the Student End-of-Course Surveys ask students to rate certain aspects of their facilitators on a numerical scale of 1 to 10 and the survey also asks students to given written feedback about their facilitators.

Narrator: Are there any ethical hazards when conducting research?

SME: All forms of researchrequireknowledgeof proper researchtechniques as well as ahighdegreeofsensitivityfor the ethicaltreatmentof everyone involved in the research process. There are specific ethical concerns related to the use of research participants of which we must be aware. Research participants should not be exposed to physical harm, psychological abuse, legal harm, or any form of deception. Researchers must also ensure that participants voluntarily consent to participate in the research. This form of consent involves more than simply agreeing to take part in the research; it must involve informed consent, which should provide participants with a complete and thorough understanding of every aspect of the study.

Narrator: What key point should students focus on this week?

SME: This week, students should focus on gaining a basic understanding of the role of research within criminal justice. Students should become familiar with the basic steps of the research process and explore contemporary examples of criminal justice research. Students should also be aware of the ethical considerations involved in research and identify methods of avoiding ethical problems.