Posted: September 16th, 2017

Scientific Methods in CJ

Scientific Methods in CJ

We have learned from the librarian Joe Scollo about the UNH library databases and how to find empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals on a CJ-related topic. To refresh your memory, you can always check the LibGuide specifically developed for this course:
http://libguides.newhaven.edu/cjst2250Tcherni

We have also learned about the 4 types of research (purpose-based classification): exploration, description, explanation, and evaluation (the first three are pure, or basic, research; the fourth one – applied research). We also practiced identifying these research types.

This homework assignment combines all these skills and knowledge: you have to use one of the library databases to find two empirical articles published in the past 10-15 years in peer-reviewed journals. The 2 articles should be on the same topic (any CJ topic you are interested in). Each of the two articles should represent a research type different from the other one (for example, one descriptive study and one explanatory study). Please format your homework in the following way:

Your topic of interest in criminal justice (the one you used to find the articles):

Study 1:

a) Reference in APA format (see the LibGuide for directions on APA formatting)

b) Abstract of the article (copy and paste from the database)

c) Identify the type of research this article represents (which one of the 4 types?)

d) Explain why you think it’s this type of research

Study 2:

a) Reference in APA format (see the LibGuide for directions on APA formatting)

b) Abstract of the article (copy and paste from the database)

c) Identify the type of research this article represents (which other one of the 4 types?)

d) Explain why you think it’s this type of research

Refer to your textbook and my PowerPoint lecture slides to review the 4 types of research. Here is a useful tip: first make sure it’s an empirical study, then identify if it’s pure or applied, then (if it’s pure) ask yourself if it tests an explanation or if it involves interviewing/observing people in their natural settings. If it’s an empirical study but the answers to all the other questions are “no”, it’s probably a descriptive type. Again, do not use the studies that are hard to classify, use the easier ones!