University of Surrey - Guildford
Registry
  
 

  
 
Registry > Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
View Module List by A.O.U. and Level  Alphabetical Module Code List  Alphabetical Module Title List  Alphabetical Old Short Name List  View Menu 
2011/2 Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 Module Code: SOCM033 Module Title: RESEARCH AND EVALUATION IN CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Module Provider: Sociology Short Name: SOCM033
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: MEADOWS RA Dr (Sociology)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability
Autumn semester.
Assessment Pattern
Two exercises; a critique of a piece of evaluation research and the design of a questionnaire.
Module Overview
The aims of the module are to provide an introduction to the basic principles of research design and to explore some of the conceptual, theoretical and technical issues associated with designing and implementing both quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation strategies. A particular focus will be the design and conduct of large scale surveys. Examples of evaluations of crime policy initiatives and intervention programmes will be drawn on throughout the module.
Prerequisites/Co-requisites
Module Aims
Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

· understand the basic methodological principles underpinning research and evaluation

· appreciate some of the technical, practical and ethical issues encountered when evaluating criminal justice interventions

· critically assess evidence-based policy research reports

· design a questionnaire and understand the pros and cons of a range of survey designs

· identify sources of error in survey measurements and be aware of how they can be prevented and removed
Module Content
·        experimental and quasi-experimental research designs
·        basic principles of evaluation research: types of evaluation
·        realistic evaluation
·        qualitative approaches to research and evaluation
·        systematic reviews and meta analysis
·        evaluating crime reduction programmes, crime prevention initiatives and the effectiveness of court sentences
·        history, theory and logic of the sample survey
·        the art and the science of questionnaire design
·        data sources and modes of data collection
·        errors in data; threats to validity and the reliability of estimates
Methods of Teaching/Learning
Selected Texts/Journals

Bryman, A (2001) Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press.

Clarke, R. V. and Eck, J. (2003) Become a Problem Solving Crime Analyst. Willan

DeVaus, D.A (2002) Surveys in Social Research, (5th Edition), London: UCL Press.

Farrington, D. et al Eds (2006) Evidence-Based Crime Prevention. Routledge

Groves, R, Floyd J. Fowler, M. Couper, J.M. Lepkowski, Singer, E. and Tourangeau,

R. 2004. Survey Methodology. Wiley.

Pawson, R. and Tilley, N. (1997) Realistic Evaluation, Sage.

Tarling, R. Managing Social Research, A practical Guide. Routledge.

Tilley, N. (Ed) (2002) Evaluation for Crime Prevention. Willan
Last Updated

April 2011