TO: Students in CJ 160 – Sec. 001 – Fall 2005
FROM: R. B. Taylor
DATE: 10/10/05
RE: Paper 1 assignment
TO PREPARE: Come to class. Read Hingson article. Read RMCJ 266-291. Repeat as needed.
ASSIGNMENT: You are an advisor to Governor Rendell. He is preparing to send a bill to the state legislature which will propose adopting a law, similar to Maine’s, which severely penalizes drivers with a BAC above .05% if they have a previous DUI conviction. Before he decides whether or how to go ahead with this he needs a memo from you. You are going to summarize in ONE PAGE (typed, double spaced, 12 pitch font, 1 inch margins all around, using Times Roman type face, with ONLY YOUR TEMPLE ID NUMBER APPEARING on the very first line and your name appearing nowhere) results of the Hingson study and its limitations. Governor Rendell will pass this on to his staff who are working up the bill. THE MEMO MUST BE ENTIRELY IN YOUR OWN WORDS, with in-line cites and references as needed at the bottom.
Your memo will cover the following points:
1) What was the policy change which served as the independent variable in Hingson et al? (referred to hereafter as H);
2) describe an outcome examined that you think was the most important outcome – say why;
3) what was the comparison group?;
4) in brief, what was the data source?;
5) using a classification from RMCJ, what was the type of quasi-experimental design used?;
6) stated NONTECHNICALLY, what were the results for the outcome you picked?
7) Refer to at least ONE TIV (threat to internal validity) from RMCJ, and say CLEARLY how this might apply to H.
8) You already know how many drunk drivers die in fatal crashes in PA (remember the figures from handout?). Here, you will come to a conclusion, which will include the following: say how “strong,” you think the H study is, what it shows (in non-technical terms), and how strongly you recommend a law change similar to the Maine law change for Pennsylvania.
Write this as a coherent memo, NOT a list!
GRADING:
On Q 1-6: 0 - 1 point each;
Q 7,8: 0 – 1.5 points each.
This only adds up to 9 but 1 point gets added on for total possible score of 10 if spelling/grammar ok.
You can “lose”one point for flagrantly poor grammar and/or mis-spelling(s) and/or not having the Hingson study or any other reference(s) you use properly cited.
GOING OVER 1 PAGE OR IN ANY WAY VIOLATING PAPER PARAMETERS (smaller fonts, 1 ½ spacing, etc) loses you at least one point out ten.
DUE VIA TURNITIN: 12PM ON 10/20/05.
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