School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Research Methods I
  • Unit Code

    CRI1208
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Nikki RAJAKARUNA

Description

This first research methods unit introduces students to the theory and method of quantitative research in criminology and justice. Students will be exposed to the scientific method and its importance in measuring, examining and understanding issues relevant to criminology and justice, including the interpretation of crime statistics. Students will explore fundamental quantitative research concepts and procedures, methods of statistical analysis as well as the interpretation of quantitative data. In this unit, students become informed consumers of research and develop the skills required to conduct a criminological research project.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded CRI1102

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Summarise and critique quantitative research studies that investigate a contemporary criminal justice issue.
  2. Distinguish between various quantitative research methods and statistical analyses that can be applied to investigate contemporary criminal justice issues.
  3. Apply quantitative research methods to investigate contemporary criminal justice issues.
  4. Apply statistical methods to analyse quantitative data related to contemporary criminal justice issues.

Unit Content

  1. Analysing quantitative data using appropriate statistical packages.
  2. Critiquing the quantitative research process.
  3. Designing quantitative research.
  4. Ethical considerations relevant to criminal justice research.
  5. Interpreting and applying quantitative research results.
  6. Principles of quantitative research methods.
  7. Quantitative data collection methods.
  8. Quantitative research from cross-cultural perspectives.
  9. The emergence and development of quantitative research methods in criminology and justice.
  10. The role, purpose and function of quantitative research in the study of criminology and justice.
  11. Using a body of knowledge in order to develop a testable hypothesis.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is conducted in both the on-campus and online modes. On campus students will attend weekly seminars. Online students will receive the unit content via ECU's LMS.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliography 20%
TestOnline Tests 30%
ReportResearch Report50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliography 20%
TestOnline Tests30%
ReportResearch Report50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

CRI1208|2|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Research Methods I
  • Unit Code

    CRI1208
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Nikki RAJAKARUNA

Description

This first research methods unit introduces students to the theory and method of quantitative research in criminology and justice. Students will be exposed to the scientific method and its importance in measuring, examining and understanding issues relevant to criminology and justice, including the interpretation of crime statistics. Students will explore fundamental quantitative research concepts and procedures, methods of statistical analysis as well as the interpretation of quantitative data. In this unit, students become informed consumers of research and develop the skills required to conduct a criminological research project.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded CRI1102

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Summarise and critique quantitative research studies that investigate a contemporary criminal justice issue.
  2. Distinguish between various quantitative research methods and statistical analyses that can be applied to investigate contemporary criminal justice issues.
  3. Apply quantitative research methods to investigate contemporary criminal justice issues.
  4. Apply statistical methods to analyse quantitative data related to contemporary criminal justice issues.

Unit Content

  1. Analysing quantitative data using appropriate statistical packages.
  2. Critiquing the quantitative research process.
  3. Designing quantitative research.
  4. Ethical considerations relevant to criminal justice research.
  5. Interpreting and applying quantitative research results.
  6. Principles of quantitative research methods.
  7. Quantitative data collection methods.
  8. Quantitative research from cross-cultural perspectives.
  9. The emergence and development of quantitative research methods in criminology and justice.
  10. The role, purpose and function of quantitative research in the study of criminology and justice.
  11. Using a body of knowledge in order to develop a testable hypothesis.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is conducted in both the on-campus and online modes. On campus students will attend weekly seminars. Online students will receive the unit content via ECU's LMS.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliography 20%
TestOnline Tests 30%
ReportResearch Report50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliography 20%
TestOnline Tests30%
ReportResearch Report50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

CRI1208|2|2