Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology 3/e

Callie Marie Rennison is the Director of Equity, and Title IX Coordinator at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus. In addition, she is a full professor, and former Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs in the School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver. She earned a PhD in 1997 in political science from the University of Houston, University Park. Her areas of research interest include investigating the nature, extent, and consequences of violent victimization, with an emphasis on research methodology, quantitative analysis, and measurement. Much of this research focuses on violence against women, violence against minority groups such as African Americans and Hispanics, crime data, and victim interaction with the criminal justice system. Callie recently served on a National Academies committee examining domestic sex trafficking of minors in the United States. Her research has appeared in numerous journals, including the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Justice Quarterly, Violence and Victims, and Violence Against Women. Callie has taught a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses, including statistics, research methods, murder in America, crime and the media, and introduction to criminal justice. Callie was awarded the School of Public Affairs Research and Creative Activities Award in 2013, the Teaching Award in 2011, and the Service Award in 2015. In 2016, she was awarded the American Society of Criminology's Bonnie S. Fisher Victimology Career Award to recognize significant contributions in the area of Victimology over her lifetime. Timothy C. Hart is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Tampa. Tim earned his PhD in criminology and criminal justice from the University of South Florida; and in 1997, he was awarded a Presidential Management Fellowship with the Bureau of Justice Statistics at the US Department of Justice. He has also served as a program analyst for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and as a research analyst for the Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff's Office. Tim is also the former Statistical Analysis Centre (SAC) director for the state of Nevada. His areas of interest include survey research, applied statistics, geographic information systems (GIS), and victimization. His scholarship appears in various academic journals, including the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and the British Journal of Criminology. He has also been awarded numerous research grants, including studies funded by the Queensland Police Service, Australian Institute of Criminology, the National Institute of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In 2021, he received the Excellence in Scholarship and Research award from the University of Tampa's College of Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Education.

Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Part I: Getting Started Chapter 1: Why Study Research Methods? Introduction Why Are Research Methods Important? Typical Stages of Research Essential Role of Ethics Throughout the Research Process Researcher Case Studies and a Road Map Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Part II: Setting the Stage for Your Research Chapter 2: Identifying a Topic, a Purpose, and a Research Question Introduction Why Conduct Research? How to Identify a Research Topic How to Identify the Purpose/Goal of Research Gathering More Information and Refining the Topic How to Construct the Research Question Common Pitfalls When Developing Topics, Purposes, and Research Questions Ethical Considerations When Developing Your Topic, Purpose, and Research Question Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 3: Conducting a Literature Review Introduction Why Conduct a Literature Review? A Road Map: How to Conduct a Literature Review About Sources Finding Primary or Original Sources Writing the Literature Review Common Pitfalls of Literature Reviews Ethics and the Literature Review Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Part III: Designing Your Research Chapter 4: Concepts, Conceptualizations, Operationalizations, Measurements, Variables, and Data Introduction Two Primary Types of Data: Quantitative and Qualitative What Are Concepts? What Is Conceptualization? What Is Operationalization? What Are Variables? What Are Measures? What Are Data? Overview of the Road From Concepts to Variables Common Pitfalls in Concepts, Conceptualizations, Operationalizations, Measurements, Variables, and Data in Research Design Ethics Associated With Concepts, Conceptualizations, Operationalizations, Measurements, Variables, and Data Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 5: Sampling Introduction Why Is Sampling Important? What Is Sampling? Populations,Samples, and Censuses Unit of Analysis Ecological Fallacy Individualist Fallacy Choosing a Sampling Approach How Large Should My Sample Be? Common Pitfalls Related to Sampling Ethics Associated With Sampling Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Part IV: Collecting Your Data Chapter 6: Research Using Qualitative Data Introduction Why Conduct Qualitative Research? What Are Qualitative Data? Qualititive Approaches to Inquiry Stages of Research Using Qualitative Data Common Methods to Gather Data Considerations: Research Using Qualitative Data Recording Qualitative Data Organizing and Analyzing Qualitative Data Benefits and Limitations of Research Using Qualitative Data Example of Qualitatively Derived Themes Common Pitfalls in Research Using Qualitative Data Ethics Associated With Research Using Qualitative Data Qualitative Data Research Expert-Carol Peeples Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 7: Survey Research Introduction Why Conduct Survey Research? What Are Surveys? General Steps in Survey Research Surveys Across Research Purposes How Are Surveys Distributed? Designing Your Own Survey Survey Administration Easy-to-Use Survey Software Common Pitfalls in Survey Research Ethical Considerations in Survey Research Surveying Expert-Bridget Kelly, MA Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 8: Experimental Research Introduction Why Conduct Experimental Research? What Is Experimental Research? True Experiments Validity Reliability Beyond True Experiments Pre-Experimental Research Quasi-Experimental Research Natural Experiments Common Pitfalls in Experimental Research Ethics and Experimental Research Experimental Research Expert-Chris Keating, PhD Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 9: Research Using Secondary Data Introduction Why Conduct Research Using Secondary Data? What Are Secondary Data? Frequently Used Secondary Data Disadvantages of Using Secondary Data Reporting Findings From Secondary Data Analysis Common Pitfalls in Secondary Data Analysis Ethics Associated With Secondary Data Analysis Secondary Data Expert-Jenna Truman, PhD Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 10: Evaluation Research Introduction Why Use Evaluation Research? What Is Evaluation Research? Types of Evaluation Research Distinctive Purposes of Evaluation and Basic Research Characteristics of Effective Evaluations Common Pitfalls in Evaluation Research Ethics Associated With Evaluation Research Evaluation Research Expert-Michael Shively, PhD Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 11: Cutting-Edge Methods for Criminological Inquiry Introduction Why Use Cutting-Edge Methods? Crime Risk Estimation What Is GIS? Social Network Analysis Virtual Reality in Criminological Research Agent-Based Modeling in Criminological Research Crime Script Analysis Blockchain and Cryptographic Tools in Criminological Research Citizen Science in Criminology Strengths and Limitations of Cutting-Edge Methods Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Part V: Analysis, Findings, and Where to Go From There Chapter 12: Analysis and Findings Introduction Why Analysis? How Should Data Be Analyzed? Analysis of Quantitative Data Quantitative Data Analysis Software Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) Alternative Analytic Approaches Communicating Analyses and Findings from Your Research Common Pitfalls in Data Analysis Ethics Associated With Analyzing Your Data and Developing Your Findings Analysis and Findings Expert-Charlie Scheer, PhD Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Research Proposal Guide Notes Chapter 13: Making Your Research Policy Relevant Introduction Why Conduct Policy-Relevant Research? What Is Policy-Relevant Research? What Is Policy? Who Are Policy Makers? The Policy Process Challenges of Getting Research to Policy Makers Maximizing Chances of Producing Policy-Relevant Research Common Pitfalls in Producing Policy-Relevant Research Ethics and Conducting Policy Relevant Research Making a Policy Brief Policy Expert-Katie TePas Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Notes Chapter 14: Developing Professionally-Skill Building and Career Readiness Introduction What Skills Do I Need to Succeed? Where Do I Get Started Finding a Career? Career Search Documents Public- Versus Private-Sector Jobs Where to Look for a Career Interviewing Well Pitfalls and Career Searches Ethics and Career Searches Research Methods as a Career Expert-Nora Scanlon, MA Chapter Wrap-Up Applied Assignments Key Words and Concepts Key Points Review Questions Critical Thinking Questions Notes Appendix Glossary References Index