LAW6172   Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods   (30 credits)

Description

This module aims to familiarise students with a range of research methods and analyses in common use in criminology and related social science disciplines. It will introduce students to quantitative and qualitative research techniques and guide them through a combination of formal teaching and workshop experience. The module will introduce basic concepts such as sampling, distributions, hypothesis testing and descriptive statistics and the use of computer programs, such as SPSS. It then goes on to bivariate statistics such as correlation and cross-tabulation along with relevant statistical tests. Students will become familiar with the key role that secondary data analysis now plays in criminology and other social sciences. It will cover a range of data collection techniques including interviewing, observation, documents and archives, and the use of visual data, as well as distinct research approaches including ethnography and mixed methods. Across the range of quantitative and qualitative approaches, students will learn how to use methods appropriately and with confidence, and how to interpret the results produced by those methods clearly and correctly.

Reading List