Course

Research Methods in Criminology

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminology
Course code
CRIM 2254
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Hybrid
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This is an introductory course in research methodology in Criminology and the Social Sciences. Topics addressed include: origin of research questions; qualitative and quantitative approaches; deductive and inductive approaches including theory, hypothesis testing and causality; sampling; and ethical issues in research. Using an inter-disciplinary approach, course materials will focus on research in criminology and criminal justice. Emphasis will be placed on data gathering techniques.
Course content
  1. The social science research enterprise
  2. Research decisions and how they are made
  3. Qualitative and Quantitative  Methodologies
    • Inductive and deductive approaches
    • Theory, variables, hypotheses, causality
    • Operationalization
  4. Ethical issues in research
  5. Sampling
    • Purpose, function,
    • Probability & non-probability types
    • Reliability, validity and generalization issues
  6. Experimentation and Quasi-Experimentation
  7. Data Collection
    • Questionnaire design and administration
    • Interviewing techniques
    • Observation
    • Case Studies
    • Interactive and Internet Research techniques
  8. Descriptive & Inferential Statistics
    • Function and purposes
Learning activities

The course will employ a range of instructional techniques: lecture, class discussion, audio-visual materials, guest lectures, field observation, and term projects.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be based on course objectives and carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.  The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on some of the following:

 

  1. Examinations
  2. Term Assignments
  3. Oral Quiz

 

An example of one possible evaluation scheme would be:

Midterm Exam 1  30%
Midterm Exam 2  30%
Term Assignments (3)  30%
Final Oral Quiz  10%
  100%
Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

  1. Describe and explain the nature and purpose of the social scientific research enterprise.

  2. Describe and explain the nature of research decisions facing social science researchers.

  3. Criticially assess the differences and similarities between quantitative and qualitative approaches as well as describe the general strengths and weaknesses of each.

  4. Critically assess contemporary ethical issues in conducting research on human subjects.

  5. Describe and explain sampling.

  6. Describe and explain the relevance of experimentation and quasi-experimentation.

  7. Describe and explain the relationship between theory, variables, hypotheses and causality.

  8. Describe and explain the strengths and weaknesses of such data gathering techniques as: questionnaire design and administration; case studies; interviewing; observation; unobtrusive and archival methods; and, Internet-based research techniques.

  9. Describe and explain the relationships between reliability, validity and generalizability.

  10. Describe and explain the purpose and function of descriptive and inferential statistics.
Textbook materials

Texts will be updated periodically.  Typical examples are:

  • Bouma, G. & Carland, S. (2016). The Research Process, 6th Canadian Ed., Oxford University Press, Toronto.
  • Palys, T. & Atchison, C. (2014). Research Decisions: Quantitative & Qualitative Perspectives, 5th ed., Nelson, Toronto.
  • Maxfield, M. & Babbie, E. (2017). Research Methods for Criminal Justice and Criminology, 8th ed., Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

 

Requisites

Prerequisites

CRIM 1150

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for CRIM 2254
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SOC 2XX (3)
Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) JIBC RESM 2100 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CRIM 1208 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CRIM 1220 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CRIM 220 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU SOCI 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU GENS 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO SOCI_O 2nd (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV SOCI_V 250 (3) or UBCV SOCI_V 2nd (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CRIM 220 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOCI 2XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CRIM 220 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
35
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
2
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. D
Room
D1024
Times:
Start Time
9:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

CRIM 2254 002 - See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
10
Remaining seats:
25
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. B
Room
B2250
Times:
Start Time
15:30
-
End Time
18:20
Section notes

CRIM 2254 001 - See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.