CJ 160 SEC 001 - FALL  2005

Introduction to Research Methods in Criminal Justice

 Sequence of Topics and Readings

Last revision: 11/29/05

NOTE:

• this is subject to change, as time and class needs dictate. TEST WEEKS ARE ONLY APPROXIMATE. Be sure to check back.
• Jacobs' two books you are expected to purchase. We will be placing online pages from GUNS IN AMERICA and some other readings. RMCJ (Research Methods in Criminal Justice) is ON RESERVE AND ONLINE.
• For the online material, click on the links on this page
  
• You want to have these readings completed by the BEGINNING of the week listed

WEEK OF	TOPIC AND READING
8/29	Howdy
9/5	DRINKING AND DRIVING: AN AMERICAN TRADITION/AN AMERICAN DILEMMA Introduction. What is drunk driving? How do we define it? How do we measure it? Can we "grade" it? Are all forms equally serious? Constructs and Indicators. READ: JACOBS - DRUNK DRIVING: Introduction; Ch. 1, 6, 7 RMCJ: 38-46; 100-111 (reserve) or CLICK HERE
9/12	How big a problem is drunk driving? Where can we go to find out how much drunk driving is taking place? What are the RATES (incidence, prevalence)? Can we measure DUI separate from its impacts? Reading and constructing charts and graphs READ: JACOBS-DRUNK DRIVING: Ch. 2, 3, 4 Test 1 (approximately)
9/19	Reading and constructing charts and graphs; measurement theory basics; constructing rates READ: RMCJ 77-94; 111-118 (reserve) OR CLICK HERE Learning more about DUI impacts: The SOURCEBOOK; A first look at WEB sources
9/26	Samples, Surveys and attitudes toward drinking and driving; toward DUI READ: RMCJ 183-206 CLICK HERE ; 235-263 CLICK HERE
10/3	More on Samples and Surveys and Americans' Attitudes and Your Attitudes Reliability, validity and baloney READ: RMCJ 131-178  CLICK HERE TEST 2 HAPPENED HERE
10/10	What can be done to prevent/reduce DUI? Experiments, Quasi-Experiments, and Evaluations READ: JACOBS-DRUNK DRIVING: Ch. 9, 11, 12, AND  pp. 173-180 RMCJ 266-291 (reserve) CLICK HERE *** ARTICLE BY HINGSON (online)*** click here
10/17	10/18 PAPER 1 DUE More on Interventions   READINGS: TBA
10/24	GUNS AND HANDGUNS: ANOTHER AMERICAN TRADITION/DILEMMA Identifying the constructs in the debate, and the important background factors What are the big questions? What are the big constructs? Understanding Quasi-Experimental Designs to help us gauge impacts of major policy initiatives IN CLASS: Who favors more gun controls? READ RMCJ 266-291 CLICK HERE JACOBS, GUN CONTROL?: Chs. 1-3 (pp. 1 - 60)
10/31	Continuing with staged assignment: Hypotheses about attitudes toward gun laws
11/7	TEST 3 MONDAY 11/7 EXTRA CREDIT: Dick Van Dyke and Defensive Gun Use (see memo dated 11/8/05) (to write this extra credit you MAY want to read GUNS IN AMERICA 57-76 CLICK HERE ) Research Methods and Ethics RMCJ 54-73 CLICK HERE Anthropologist goes undercover- 2 readings - CLICK HERE-1ST and HERE-2ND
11/14	EVALUATION: BRADY LAW - What is it supposed to do and what did it do?: AGGREGATE IMPACTS The quasi-experimental design and internal validity READ JACOBS, GUN CONTROL? Chapters 4-7 (61-122) Ludwig and Cook, JAMA 2001 CLICK HERE EVALUATION: BRADY LAW - What is it supposed to do and what did it do?: READ/REREAD: RMCJ 38-53 CLICK HERE
11/21	Brady
11/28	EVALUATION: 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and questions of external validity Quasi-experimental designs and evaluation READ: ROTH AND KOPER (online): (CLICK HERE) RMCJ 266-291 CLICK HERE Prepare for outside speaker: www.pgas.info
12/5	Monday: Dr. Charles Branas: The Philadelphia Guns and Alcohol Study Wednesday: Case control methodology (maybe); Your closing thoughts; review for test 4 EXTRA CREDIT OPTION PAPER DUE PERHAPS AS TIME PERMITS Evaluating Web Sites More comments on qualitative research RECOMMENDED READING (none of these will be on test 4): http://libweb.sonoma.edu/assistance/eval.html http://libweb.sonoma.edu/assistance/citingweb.html Qualitative research RMCJ 208-231  CLICK HERE  WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7 I S OUR LAST DAY OF CLASS
12/12	FINAL EXAM PERIOD FOR THIS COURSE IS Friday 12/16 8:30 - 10:30 TEST 4 THE LAST TEST WILL BE DELIVERED DURING THIS PERIOD.