Professional Documents
Culture Documents
cjbs250 07fa17
cjbs250 07fa17
cjbs250 07fa17
Course description:
This course will present the research process, types of studies, appropriate descriptive
statistical techniques and guidelines for formulating research questions and testable hypotheses.
It will also review how to decide on an appropriate population for study, how variables are
constructed, and how data are collected and organized, and discuss sampling methods and
sample size. A variety of research methods will be covered, including experimental,
quasiexperimental and survey methods, as well as other forms of data collection and the use of
existing databases. Students will also be exposed to qualitative methodologies including
ethnography, observation, content-analysis, and interviewing techniques.
Learning outcomes:
Course Prerequisites: ENG 101, CJBS 101 or CRJ 101, and MAT 108 or MAT 141 or MAT
241 or MAT 242 or STA 250
2
Requirements:
The paper is due on the last day of class and must be submitted to Turnitin.com for a
similarity assessment. The proposal must be at least 6 pages, typed in Times New
Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. Any references should be
cited using APA format. Citation guidelines are available at the library and on the
internet. Additional discussion on paper format and potential topics will be provided in
class.
Miscellaneous:
This course will use Blackboard Online in addition to the textbook. Students are required
to retrieve various course materials from the site.
Students are expected to attend class. Attendance is taken and missing class will reflect
negatively on the students final grade. Every student is expected to arrive on time.
Arriving late or leaving early without proper notification is disruptive and unacceptable.
Students are expected to come to class prepared. This requires reading the assigned
material prior to each class. All electronic devices must be turned off or silenced before
class begins. Making phone calls, texting, emailing, checking messages, or browsing the
internet is strictly prohibited while class is in session and will negatively affect the
students participation grade.
*The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the course format*
Required Text:
Maxfield, M. G. & Babbie, E.R. (2015). Research Methods for Criminal Justice & Criminology,
7th Edition. Cengage Publishing. ISBN: 9781285067841
Grading:
Course Calendar:
9/21 No Class
The course will culminate in a research proposal due at the end of the semester. Each
student will submit and e-mail a research proposal of five (5) to seven (7) pages.
Students must choose a topic, and have the topic approved by the Instructor by the end of
week four (4), and prepare a research proposal to study a particular criminal justice issue.
1) Introduction;
2) Review of relevant literature;
3) Discussion of potential data sources;
4) Plan for sampling and collecting the data;
5) Plan to analyze the data, and;
6) Discussion of the policy implications of this research proposal.
Students should familiarize themselves with the Undergraduate Bulletin, now wholly
online on the college website. In particular, students should be aware of the following:
Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult
with their instructors. The college library has free guides designed to help students with
any concern (see Undergraduate Bulletin, Academic Standards & Policies. The college
subscribe to plagiarism detection software (Turnitin.com).
Writing Center
Room 1.68, New Building: (212) 237-8569
The Writing Center provides tutoring and writing consultation to all undergraduate and
graduate students enrolled in the College. Trained tutors work with students on
conceptual and sentence level skills, rules of grammar and style.
The Writing Center emphasizes formulating a thesis, organizing and developing ideas,
documenting American Psychological Association (APA) style, documenting Modern
Language Association (MLA) style, evaluating evidence, and revising a paper.
Throughout the year, the Writing Center offers numerous writing-oriented workshops,
some specific to writing in the individual disciplines, as well as intensive CUNY
Assessment Test in Writing (CATW) preparation. All are conducted by faculty and staff
and are open to all students.