Graduate Studies Reports Access
Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - CCJ7726
Tracking Number - 2740
Edit function not enabled for this course.
Current Status:
Approved by SCNS - 2015-01-01
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: For PhD in Crim. Approved 3/4/14. To USF Sys 3/19. to SCNS 3/27/14. SCNS approved 7705 as CCJ 7726 Efff 1/1/15
Detail Information
- Date & Time Submitted: 2012-02-07
- Department: Criminology
- College: BC
- Budget Account Number: 122100000
- Contact Person: OJ Mitchell
- Phone: 8139740168
- Email: ojmarrh@gmail.com
- Prefix: CCJ
- Number: 7726
- Full Title: Research Methods in Criminology II
- Credit Hours: 3
- Section Type: C -
Class Lecture (Primarily)
- Is the course title variable?: N
- Is a permit required for registration?: N
- Are the credit hours variable?: N
- Is this course repeatable?: N
- If repeatable, how many times?: 0
- Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum): Research Methods in Crim II
- Course Online?: C -
Face-to-face (0% online)
- Percentage Online: 100
- Grading Option:
R - Regular
- Prerequisites: CCJ 6704 CCJ 6706 and CCJ6707
- Corequisites:
- Course Description: Students will have the opportunity for the practical application of key research processes including classical test theory, item response theory, reliability and validity, item analysis, construct validity, sampling methods, causal inference.
- Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Needed to compete with national trends
- What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? This course is being added in the context of a complete revision of the Department of Criminology graduate curriculum. The purposes of the revision are to ensure that the curriculum (a) is updated to reflect current emphasis on research methods in the discipline, (b) provides students with a well-rounded graduate education, and (c) improves outcomes on doctorate comprehensive exams. Adding this course will help us achieve these objectives. With the new curriculum, we seek to further strengthen students’ knowledge and skills in research methods. This course will build on basic research methods by challenging students to apply what they learned in a basic course to multiple research questions.
- Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 1 time
- What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.) Earned doctorate/terminal degree in Criminology or a related discipline and substantial expertise in research methods utilized in the field of criminology.
- Objectives: • Describe research methods/designs.
• Demonstrate the following methods concepts/skills to a wide variety of research questions in criminology and criminal justice
o Classical test theory
o Reliability and validity assessments
o Item analysis
o Construct validity
o Sampling methods
o Experimental and quasi-experimental research design
o Missing data
• Demonstrated management and analysis of data using statistical software.
- Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of criminology and criminal justice studies
2. Explain, apply and give examples for key concepts of research design.
3. Demonstrate data management and analysis techniques/skills.
- Major Topics: Measurement reliability and validity, item analysis and item response theory, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, sampling and analyzing data from complex sampling, causal inference and experimental designs, missing data analysis.
- Textbooks: Enders, C. K. (2010). Applied missing data analysis. New York: Guilford Press.
Henry, G. T. (1990). Practical sampling. Newbury Park, CA; Sage.
Raykov, T., & Marcoulides, G. A., (2011). Introduction to psychometric theory. New York: Routledge.
Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference (2nd ed.). Wadsworth Publishing: Belmont, CA.
- Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases: This course focuses on the application of modern research methods; this focus on application necessitates the use of statistical software. There are many statistical software packages available for data analysts; however, this course will utilize Stata exclusively. No other statistical software will be supported in this course; and, therefore, students are required to have access to a computer with Stata. The Department will provide access to Stata.
- Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy: In-class group assignments (N=3) 5%
Homework assignments (N=9) 45%
In-class quizzes (N=2) 20%
Take-home final exam (n=1) 30%
Course grades will be assigned as follows:
A = 95-100
A- = 90-94.9
B+ = 87-89.9
B = 84-86.9
B- = 80-83.9
C+ = 77-79.9
C = 74-76.9
C - = 70-73.9
D = 60-69.9
F = below 60.9
- Assignments, Exams and Tests: Application Assignments (50% of total course grade)
The points accorded to a homework assignment turned in after the due date will be reduced by 5% for each day (including weekends, holidays) that the assignment is late.
1. In Class Group Assignments (5% of total course grade)
For in-class work, students will break into groups and complete assignments on the following topics:
#1: Reliability/Validity
#2: Exploratory Factor Analysis
#3: Developing Experimental Design
2. Homework Assignments (45% of total course grade)
Students will complete 9 homework assignments. As indicated in the course calendar, students will present specified homework assignments in class.
Assignment #1: Students will be provided with a data base and given an assignment that requires that they use the software Stata to conduct various recodes and produce designated statistical results.
Assignment #2: (a) Students will identify an existing survey that has been developed to measure a specified construct. The students will report on the various measures, tests for validity and reliability, strengths and weaknesses. (b) Students will be assigned to produce various measures of reliability using Stata and a data base provided by the professor.
Assignment #3: Students will (a) select from among four journal articles each of which describes a study that uses exploratory factor analysis and provide a critique of that usage, (b) complete an analysis assignment involving EFA using Stata and a data based provided by the professor.
Assignment #4: Students will (a) identify a research article in a criminology or criminal justice journal that involves sampling and provide both a critique of the sampling and an alternative method, (b) develop a sampling design for a specified research project.
Assignment #5: Students will complete an assignment that involves analyzing data from a complex sampling design (provided by the professor).
Assignment #6: Students will design a research study using a non-experimental design addressing one of three research questions provided by the professor.
Assignment #7: Students will design a research study using an experimental design addressing one of three research questions provided by the professor.
Assignment #8: Students will design a non-experimental design using panel data addressing one of three research questions provided by the professor.
Assignment #9: Students will apply various missing data techniques using a designated data set and per instructions. Students will describe the pros and cons of each technique and impact of the technique on the results.
In-Class Quizzes (20%)
Students will take three in-class quizzes that will cover course material to date. Each student’s lowest quiz score will be dropped. Because there is an “extra” quiz, no make-up quizzes will be given.
Exam (30% of total course grade)
Students will take one take-home exam that will address students’ knowledge of course concepts and the students’ ability to apply course concepts to varied research questions.
In order to make up a missed examination, students must provide a written excuse to the professor. Valid excuses include illness (self or dependent), bereavement, religious holiday and/or participation in University sponsored athletic events.
- Attendance Policy: Considerable emphasis is placed upon the quality of in-class discussions (in small groups and as a whole); consequently, attendance and activity participation in class discussions are essential. Students are expected to attend every session and will notify the professor ahead of time (if possible) if they are going to miss class. Attendance will not be graded.
Course Attendance at First Class Meeting is required.
Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,
http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)
Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)
Students are expected to notify their instructors at the beginning of each academic term if they intend to be absent for a class or announced examination, in accordance with this policy.
In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.
- Policy on Make-up Work: Make-up work will be allowed due to medical reasons if you notify me prior to class and provide documentation.
Incomplete (I) grades are strongly discouraged and will be given if, and only if, (1) the student has completed a majority of the course requirements and is otherwise earning a passing grade, and (2) the student shows significant proof of hardship that disallows him or her to complete the coursework.
- Program This Course Supports: Criminology PhD
- Course Concurrence Information: None
- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.