Introduction to Research Methods in Criminal Justice

 Sequence of Topics and Readings

CLICK HERE to go to lists of questions to accompany readings

NOTE:

• this is subject to change, as time and class needs dictate.
  

• paper schedules are tentative at this point.
  
• Be sure to check back for changes.
  
• You want to have these readings completed by the BEGINNING of the week listed

WEEK OF	TOPIC AND READING
1/17	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: Introduction; Ch. 1, 6, 7 READ: RMCJ: 38-46; 100-111
1/24	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, Ch. 2, 3, 4 READ: RMCJ 77-94; 111-118
1/31	Learning more about DUI impacts: The SOURCEBOOK; A first look at WEB sources
2/7	Test 1 (approximately) Samples, Surveys and attitudes toward drinking and driving; toward DUI READ: RMCJ 183-206; 235-263
2/14	More on Samples and Surveys and Americans' Attitudes and Your Attitudes Reliability, validity and baloney READ: RMCJ 131-178 READ: Provost OR Strunk and White PAPER 1 DUE: Analysis of a sourcebook table (time and topic tentative)
2/21	What can be done to prevent/reduce DUI? Experiments, Quasi-Experiments, and Evaluations READ: Jacobs Ch. 9, 11, 12, AND pp. 173-180 READ: RMCJ 266-291 *** READ ARTICLE BY HINGSON*** click here Questions to answer while you read Hingson 1) what is dependent variable 2) what is independent variable 3) what hypothesis was tested? 4) what impact did the independent variable have on the dependent variable 5) how can we be sure
2/28	More on Interventions Test 2 (approximately)
3/6	BREAK WEEK
3/13	GUNS AND HANDGUNS: ANOTHER AMERICAN TRADITION/DILEMMA Identifying the constructs in the debate: owners; dangerous owners; firearm control What are the big questions? What are the big constructs? The background on the Guns in America study DOWNLOAD AND READ THIS OVERVIEW BY ROTH: click here For questions to answer on the Roth article, click here READ: K&K: Ch. 1, 2 READ: GUNS IN AMERICA, 1-28 READ/REREAD: RMCJ 38-53; CHAPTER 11( 208-234)
3/20	Developing a theory about gun owners Weapons carrying: prevalence rates, incidence rates, construct validity; GUNS IN AMERICA: 31-56 READ/REREAD: RMCJ 38-53; PAPER 2 DUe-approximately
3/27	Attitudes toward guns, gun ownership, gun rights READ: RMCJ 315-319 PAPER 2 DUE 3/28
4/3	TEST 3 - 4/4 READINGS FOR AFTER THE TEST START HERE Understanding Defensive Gun Use (DGU); and limits of surveys for getting at DGU RMCJ: CHAPTER 11( 208-234) READ: K&K: 193-222; K&K 151-186 READ: GUNS IN AMERICA 57-76
4/10	More on DGU: Cook's point of view Attitudes towards guns GUNS IN AMERICA 77-84 REREAD: RMCJ 183-205; 235-262
4/17	Policy Issues Around Guns: * Impacts of Gun Control Laws: the assault weapons ban * Impacts of Firearm "add on" Sentences Using Quasi-Experiments to Evaluate the Impacts of these Innovations READ: ROTH AND KOPER (ADOBE FILE) READ/REREAD: RMCJ 266-291
4/24	PAPER THREE DUE 4/24 TO GET AN A!!! Experiments, quasi-experiments, evaluation continued; shall issue laws; the debate around Lott's work READ (ALL ADOBE FILES): LOTT-summary Webster criticizes Lott REREAD: K&K 235-257 READ: GUNS IN AMERICA 85-87 RMCJ 54-67 In-class demonstration on simulations (time permitting) TEST 4 ON 4-27
5/5	PAPER 4 due IN-CLASS POST ASSESSMENT DURING FINAL EXAM SLOT: 5/9/00 - 8:30 - 10:30 AM