Scientific Research in Criminology
Code: 100454 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500257 Criminology | FB | 1 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Lluis Saez Giol
- Email:
- lluis.saez@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.
Prerequisites
This course has no prerequisites.
Objectives and Contextualisation
As a general goal, the Degree of Criminology aims that a graduate of this degree must be able to use the research methods and techniques of criminological analysis to analyze data and experiences -about conflict, crime and control- in a certain social context. The course offers the fundamentals and the main methodological concepts of social research, and the dynamics of research process, with the focus on applying these concepts to the design of a criminological research project.
Competences
- Ability to analyse and summarise.
- Accessing and interpreting sources of crime data.
- Clearly explaining and arguing a carried out analysis about a conflict or crime problem and its responses in front of specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Drawing up an academic text.
- Using research methods in social sciences in order to diagnose criminality problems.
- Verbally transmitting ideas to an audience.
- Working autonomously.
- Working in teams and networking.
Learning Outcomes
- Ability to analyse and summarise.
- Drawing up an academic text.
- Properly applying the research methods in order to analyse crime related figures.
- Transmitting in a reasoned manner the results obtained in a criminological situational analysis.
- Using the databases about delinquency in criminological researches.
- Verbally transmitting ideas to an audience.
- Working autonomously.
- Working in teams and networking.
Content
1. General introduction
1.1. Common knowledge vs. scientific knowledge.
1.2. What is science? What is social science?
1.3. Traditions and paradigms of social research.
2. Methodological foundations of social science research
2.1. Stages and phases of the research process.
2.2. Research according to your aims.
2.3. Deductive and inductive methods.
2.4. Quantitative and qualitative methods.
3. Construction of the object of study
3.1. Formulation of the initial question.
3.2. Kind of questions.
3.3. Research objectives.
4. The theoretical framework
4.1. Exploration and state of the art.
4.2. Search, selection and treatment of relevant sources.
4.3. The epistemological breakdown.
4.4. Construction of the theoretical frame of reference.
5. The analysis model
5.1. Hypothesis and structuring of the analysis model.
5.2. Conceptualization and operationalization.
5.3. Qualitative models and Grounded Theory.
6. Experimentality and field of analysis
6.1. Experimental designs.
6.2. Delimitation of the field of analysis.
7. Statistical sampling and survey technique
7.1. Statistical sampling.
7.2. Survey technique.
8. Ethical aspects of research
8.1. Deontological criteria.
8.2. Historical examples and basic texts.
Methodology
Required work for learning the subjects for the achieving of competences covered by the course will be based on the following activities:
Activities in the classroom:
- Lectures, designed to introduce the concepts and contents of the course.
- Seminars related to the group research project, consisting of exercises performed and delivered in the same session (with subsequent evaluation and correction by the teacher). Learning from seminars have direct applicability, at the same time, into the group research project.
Activities outside the classroom:
- Readings of selected texts available at the Campus Virtual, related with the contents worked in the classroom. These readings will be of use: (1) for the preparation of the individual exam, at the end of the course, and (2) for the project research group.
- Conducting a research group project focused on applying the course concepts in criminological research, which will be monitored both through specific activities in the classroom (seminars) as well as through the revision and later feed-back of partial deliveries.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lectures | 18 | 0.72 | 3, 1, 5 |
| Practices (seminar) | 18 | 0.72 | 3, 1, 6, 7, 8, 5 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Group assigment: research project | 49 | 1.96 | 3, 2, 1, 4, 7, 8 |
| Reading, analysis and synthesis of materials. Preparation for the individual test. | 60 | 2.4 | 3, 1, 7 |
Assessment
a) Continuous Assessment:
- Theoretical-practical exam: 50%
- Research Project (group work): 40%
- Evaluable practical exercises: 10%
- Conditions to be assessed, requirements to pass the course, and retake:
- The final mark will be expressed in a range of 0-10 points, beeing 5 the lowest limit to pass the course.
- To succeed in the course it is required to fulfill the following conditions: a) To have a 80% minimum attendance to lectures and seminars, only absences due to illness or similar reasons are accepted. Absences due to academic reasons should be accepted in advance by the professor; b) to have a mark equal or higher than four points (=>4) in the group research project and in the exam.
- If the unexcused or excused absences after the deadline (two weeks from the absence) exceed 20% of the total theory or seminar classes, the student will not be evaluated. Only absences due to illness, due to force majeure, or for academic reasons previously authorized by the teaching staff will be justified.
- The final grade for the course will be computed as the weighted average of the grade of the 3 assessment activities, according to the corresponding weight of each one.
- In case students do not reach the minimum mark to pass the subject, they will have the opportunity to a second asessment. The maximum mark of the evaluation activities repeated will be 5.
b) Single Assessment:
- Theoretical-practical exam: 60%
- Bibliography to prepare the exam: mandatory bibliography + Cea d'Ancona (chapters 5, 7 and 8).
- Research Project (individual work): 40%
- The work will be done throughout the semester, following the instructions that will appear on the virtual campus, and will be delivered and presented orally (maximum 15 minute presentation) on the day of the final exam.
- Conditions to be assessed, requirements to pass the course, and retake:
- To pass the subject a minimum average mark of 5 is required.
- To succeed in the course it is required to have a mark equal or higher than four points (=>4) in the research project and in the exam.
- Exam and research project will have a chance of reassessment, but in case of passing the maximum mark will be 5 out 10.
Policy against cheating and plagiarism:
- If a student is detected cheating while performing exams, he/she will obtain a fail mark (with a note=0), losing the possibility of reassessment.
- In case of plagiarism in works or practices, the student will obtain a zero and will receive a warning. In case of repetition of the behavior, the student will suspend the subject (with a 0) and will lose the rigth to reassessment.
Punctuality:
- Classes start on time. Late arrival is not admitted, neither leaving the class before the end, except for reasonable justification.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance and practice seminar performance | 10% | 0 | 0 | 3, 1, 6, 7, 8, 5 |
| Exam | 50% | 5 | 0.2 | 3, 1, 7, 5 |
| Group research project, distributed in two partial deliveries. | 40% | 0 | 0 | 3, 2, 1, 4, 7, 8, 5 |
Bibliography
MANDATORY REFERENCES (to prepare the exam):
- Corbetta, P. (2003). Metodología y técnicas de investigación social. McGraw-Hill. Chapters 1 and 2 (First part: "La lógica de la investigación social")
- Quivy, R.; Van Campenhoudt, L. (2009). Manual de investigación en ciencias sociales. Limusa. (Chapters 1 to 5).
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES (not to be tested):
- Babbie, E. (1999). Fundamentos de la investigación social. Thompson Learning.
- Bachman, R.; Schutt, K. (2001). The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Pine Forge Press.
- Bericat, E. (1998). La integración de los métodos cuantitativo y cualitativo en la investigación social. Ariel.
- Bunge, M. (1969). La investigación científica. Su estrategia y su filosofía. Ariel.
- Callejo, J.; Viedma, A. (2006). Proyectos y estrategias de investigación social:la perspectiva de la intervención. McGraw Hill.
- Campbell, D.T.; Stanley, J. (1982 [1966]). Diseños experimentales y cuasiexperimentales en investigación social. Amorrortu.
- Cea d'Ancona, Mª Ángeles (1998): Metodología cuantitativa. Síntesis.
- Chalmers, A. F. (1982). ¿Qué es esa cosa llamada ciencia?. Siglo XXI.
- Cook, T.D.; Campbell, D.T. (1979). Quasi-experimention: Design and Analysis Issues for Field Settings. Rand McNally.
- Creswell, J.W. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage.
- Dantzker, M. L.; Hunter, R. (2012). Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice. Jones & Barlett Learning.
- Ellis, L; Hartley, R. Walsh, (2010). Research methods in criminal justice and criminology: an interdisciplinary approach. Rowman & Littlefield.
- Jupp, V.; Davies, P.; Francis, P. (2011). Doing Criminological Research. Sage.
- King, R.F.; Wincup, E. (eds.) (2008). Doing Research on Crime and Justice. Oxford University Press,
- Maxfield, M.G.; Babbie, E. (2008). Research Methods for Criminal Justice and Criminology. Thomson Wadsworth.
- Popper, K.R. (1971). La lógica de la investigación científica. Tecnos.
- Ruiz Olabuénaga, J.I.; Arístegui, I.; Melgosa, L. (1998). Cómo elaborar un proyecto de investigación social. Universidad de Deusto. Cuadernos Monográficos del ICE, 7.
- Sautu, R. et al (2005). Manual de metodología. Construcción del marco teórico, formulación de los objetivos y elección de la metodología. Clacso. [http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/campus/metodo/metodo.html].
- Yin. R. (1994). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Sage.
- Ziman, J. (1984). An introduction to science studies. The philosophical and social aspects of science and technology. Cambridge University Press.
Software
No computer programs are required, in this subject.