Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Offered	South Africa First semester 2010 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit introduces the philosophical grounding of research with different types of research strategies considering also the purpose of research on conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice. The importance of ethics in research is highlighted together with an exposition of the research process, different research designs, data collection procedures and the description and interpretation of both quantitative and qualitative data. The unit concludes with a summary on the writing and evaluation of research reports.

Objectives

The objectives lie within five inter-related bands. These concern:

1. factual information
2. sources and resources
3. conceptual definitions
4. academic debates
5. analytic communication skills.

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with the following types of information, academic perspectives and skills:

1. Understand the scientific method of research on conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice
2. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate different approaches to conduct research on conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice
3. Apply methodological knowledge of conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice to particular contexts
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation when studying divergent methodological approaches to conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice
5. Use appropriate science and technology ethically, effectively and responsibly when studying methodological approaches to conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice without harming society, the environment or individuals
6. Work and communicate with others as a member of a multi-disciplinary when utilizing research methodology to understand and explain conflict, crime, victimisation and criminal justice

Assessment

Assignment(3000 words): 35%
Class presentation(2000 words):30%
Examination (2 hours): 35%

Contact hours

12 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week. The remaining 10 hours of study required will be spent in preparation for the seminar, researching and writing the essay assignment and in individual reading and study for the final examination.

Prerequisites

BA Major in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Co-requisites

CRI4060