Research Methods in Criminology
Overview
- The social science research enterprise
- Research decisions and how they are made
- Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies
- Inductive and deductive approaches
- Theory, variables, hypotheses, causality
- Operationalization
- Ethical issues in research
- Sampling
- Purpose, function,
- Probability & non-probability types
- Reliability, validity and generalization issues
- Experimentation and Quasi-Experimentation
- Data Collection
- Questionnaire design and administration
- Interviewing techniques
- Observation
- Case Studies
- Interactive and Internet Research techniques
- Descriptive & Inferential Statistics
- Function and purposes
The course will employ a range of instructional techniques: lecture, class discussion, audio-visual materials, guest lectures, field observation, and term projects.
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:
- Examinations
- Term Assignments
- 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% |
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
- Describe and explain the nature and purpose of the social scientific research enterprise.
- Describe and explain the nature of research decisions facing social science researchers.
- Criticially assess the differences and similarities between quantitative and qualitative approaches as well as describe the general strengths and weaknesses of each.
- Critically assess contemporary ethical issues in conducting research on human subjects.
- Describe and explain sampling.
- Describe and explain the relevance of experimentation and quasi-experimentation.
- Describe and explain the relationship between theory, variables, hypotheses and causality.
- 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.
- Describe and explain the relationships between reliability, validity and generalizability.
- Describe and explain the purpose and function of descriptive and inferential statistics.
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
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.
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 | More details |
---|---|---|---|---|
CRN
32060
|
Fri | Instructor last name
Gushue
Instructor first name
Kelsey
|
Course status
Waitlist
|
CRIM 2254 002 - See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.
CRN | Days | Instructor | Status | More details |
---|---|---|---|---|
CRN
32687
|
Mon | Instructor last name
TBA
Instructor first name
(Faculty)
|
Course status
Open
|
CRIM 2254 001 - See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses.