Northeastern University Online College of Professional Studies Course Syllabus DRAFT

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1 Northeastern University Online College of Professional Studies Course Syllabus CJS 6425 Research Methods, CRN Fall 2015 CPS Quarter, First Half Session, Online 6-week term September 21-October 31, 2015 Instructor: Lynn McNamara, JD, MPH (preferred) or All students are required to download and read a copy of the CPS Student Handbook, at Required Text: Criminal Justice and Criminology (3rd ed.). By M.G. Maxfield and E. Babbie. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN Course Description Surveys the methods and techniques of research and evaluation and reviews various strategies for integrating the findings obtained into agency policy and strategy. Topics include surveying, observation, analysis of archival data, and experimentation. Introduces various evaluation designs. Covers issues such as ethical problems and the design, procedures, and politics of research. The goal of this course is not to produce social scientists but to prepare students to be critical consumers of social science research. Course Outcomes and Objectives This course will provide you with the opportunity to: 1. Apply the scientific method of inquiry to the study of criminal justice. 2. Identify ethical issues that arise during criminal justice research and propose solutions for their resolution. 3. Discuss how criminal justice professionals can use social scientific research procedures to evaluate programs and analyze problems. Course Methodology Each week, you will be expected to: 1. Review the week s learning objectives. 2. Complete all assigned readings. 3. Review lecture materials for the week. 4. Participate in the online discussion board. 5. Complete and submit all assignments by the due dates. 1

2 Grading/Evaluation Standards Your final grade will have four components: Participation in weekly online discussion boards 30% Each week, you will be expected to post on the discussion board: 1. At least one primary response to each discussion question by Wednesday at midnight (ET). 2. At least two additional responses to posts by a classmate or the professor by Sunday at midnight (ET), for a total of at least three posts each week. Grading: All postings are expected to be professional in tone, clear, comprehensible, and competently produced and delivered. The content should be substantive and reflect an understanding of the lectures and assigned readings. Responses posted after the end of the week will receive no credit. Assignment analyzing a research study 15% In Week 3, you will analyze a research study on a jail reentry program, applying concepts learned to date. Creation of a survey in connection with a research study 15% In Week 4, you will create your own survey to go along with a research study on the effects of TASER exposure. Research Proposal 40% In Week 6, you will complete an 8-10 page paper applying Research Methods concepts to the criminal justice topic of your choice. Grading of written assignments: A = Excellent This work demonstrates comprehensive and solid understanding of course material, and presents thoughtful interpretations, well-focused and original insights, and well-reasoned commentary and analysis. Includes illuminating examples and illustrations and fluent verbal/written expression. "A" work is coherent, thorough, and shows some creative flair. There are very few grammatical or mechanical errors -- misspellings, usage errors, awkward wording, or problems with punctuation or any other mechanical issues that would otherwise distract the reader. B = Good This work demonstrates a complete and accurate understanding of course material, presenting a reasonable degree of insight and broad level of analysis. Work reflects competence, but stays at a general or predictable level of understanding. Examples and illustrations are used appropriately and articulation/writing is clear. "B" work is reasonable, clear, appropriate, and complete. There are enough minor grammar issues in the paper to distract the reader, but the errors do not make the writing incomprehensible. For example, there may be misspellings (fewer than five in a three to five page paper, although even that is too many!) or one or two minor syntactical issues. Usually, a "B" means you did not proofread carefully enough. 2

3 C = Adequate/Fair This work demonstrates understanding that covers most of the basics, but remains incomplete, superficial, or expresses some important errors or weaknesses. The work may lack concrete, specific examples and illustrations, articulation/writing may be hard to follow or vague. There are enough grammar, usage, spelling, and/or other mechanical problems not only to be distracting, but to detract from clarity; so the reader begins to focus more on your grammatical abilities than the content of what you are writing. A "C" means "average". D = Unsatisfactory This work demonstrates a serious lack of understanding, and fails to demonstrate the most rudimentary elements of the course assignment. The work may be inarticulate or extremely difficult to read. Cumulative Numerical Percentage Letter Grade A A B B B C C C D 0-59 F All work should be clear, comprehensible, and competently produced. In addition, please review the discussion of grading standards in the CPS Student Handbook, available at Communication/Submission of Work In the Assignments folder, click on the View/Complete Assignment link to view and each assignment. Attach your completed assignments here and click Submit to turn them in to me. Once your assignment has been graded, you will be able to view the grade and feedback I have provided by clicking on My Grades in the Tools module from the Northeastern University Online Campus tab. Students should post all course content-oriented communication on the discussion board instead of via so that all students can benefit from each others learning. Class Schedule / Topical Outline Week Dates Topic Assignments 1 Sept Introduction and Ethics and Criminal Justice Chapters 1-2 Note: Make sure to check the Reading 3

4 Week Dates Topic Assignments folder under the Course Materials tab in our classroom each week for supplemental reading materials such as articles and case studies. 2 Sept. 28- Oct. 4 3 Oct Oct (Oct. 12 is Columbus Day) 5 Oct Oct Issues in Research Design Experimental and Quasi- Experimental Designs; Sampling Surveys and Field Research Agency Records and Secondary Data Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6 Analysis of Research Study Chapters 7-8 Survey assignment Chapter 9 Evaluation Research and Problem Analysis Chapter 10 Research Proposal Academic Integrity Policy The University views academic dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while in college and imposes appropriate punitive sanctions on violators. Here are some examples of academic dishonesty. While this is not an allinclusive list, we hope this will help you to understand some of the things instructors 4

5 look for. The following is excerpted from the University s policy on academic integrity; the complete policy is available in the Student Handbook. The Student Handbook is available on the CPS Student Resources page > Policies and Forms. Cheating intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in an academic exercise Fabrication intentional and unauthorized falsification, misrepresentation, or invention of any data, or citation in an academic exercise Plagiarism intentionally representing the words, ideas, or data of another as one s own in any academic exercise without providing proper citation Unauthorized collaboration instances when students submit individual academic works that are substantially similar to one another; while several students may have the same source material, the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the data must be each individual s independent work. Participation in academically dishonest activities any action taken by a student with the intent of gaining an unfair advantage Facilitating academic dishonesty intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to violate any provision of this policy For more information on Academic Integrity, including examples, please refer to the Student Handbook, pages Northeastern University Online Policies and Procedures For comprehensive information please go to Student Technical Support: [email protected] or call (HELP) CPS Blackboard also provides 24x7 technical support for students. Click on the help button in CPS Blackboard for how to contact technical support. You can also use the CPS Blackboard Support Center. Northeastern University Online Copyright Statement Northeastern University Online is a registered trademark of Northeastern University. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This course material is copyrighted and Northeastern University Online reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or 5

6 by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the express prior written permission of Northeastern University Online. Copyright 2012 by Northeastern University Online All Rights Reserved 6