Skip to main content
Unit outline_

LAWS6032: Crime Research and Policy

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides an examination of research methods in the context of criminology. The relationship between theory and methodology is explored. The production of knowledge about crime is critically assessed. Sources and forms of crime data are discussed and their significance is assessed. Research design, evaluation and analysis are also studied.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Garner Clancey, garner.clancey@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Garner Clancey, garner.clancey@sydney.edu.au
Judy Cashmore, judith.cashmore@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Active class participation
Participation and engagement
0% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Review of research article
Written task
35% Week 07
Due date: 15 Oct 2020 at 16:00
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Research proposal
Written task
65% Week 13
Due date: 27 Nov 2020 at 16:00
4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

  • Review of Research Article: Students are required to select an article from those provided to review the aims, methods, analyses and implications of the findings for criminology. Guidelines will be provided in class discussions.
  • Research proposal: Students are required to select from 5 topics to develop a proposal for a criminological research project in the selected area. Students are expected to plan but NOT carry out the research. Students who plan to take the 12-credit point unit ‘Research Project’ are encouraged to develop a proposal that might form the basis for that project. Guidelines will be provided in class discussions.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

  • Completely answers the question.
  • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis.
  • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required).
  • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed.
  • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.

Distinction

75 - 84

  • Completely answers the question.
  • Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues.
  • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument.
  • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument.
  • Generally well expressed and free from errors.
  • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.

Credit

65 - 74

  • Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question.
  • Contains no significant errors.
  • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues.
  • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues.
  • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.

Pass

50 - 64

  • Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument.
  • Contains some significant errors.
  • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues.
  • Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question.
  • Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase.
  • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis.
  • Adequate expression.
  • Demonstrates the minimum level of competence and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies.

Fail

0 - 49

  • Does not answer the question.
  • Contains significant or numerous errors.
  • Few or no identifiable arguments.
  • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
  • Lack of research or analysis.
  • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure.
  • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, which has not been granted an extension, will attract a penalty of 2% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per calendar day or part thereof.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: course logistics, and introducing research proposals, and link to theory, policy and practice Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 02 Designing research – research questions and ethical issues Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 03 Overview – Overview of the research process: Research design, methodology, and measurement in qualitative and quantitative research Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 04 Understanding and using court statistics and big data (Suzanne Poynton, NSW Bureau of crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)) Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 05 Writing a literature review – and critical analysis of empirical research Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 06 Experimental and quasi-experimental designs Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 07 Surveys, sampling and ethics Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 08 Interviews, sampling and ethics Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 09 Field research: observations and ethnography Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 10 Qualitative data analysis Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 11 Media and research in criminology Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 12 Evaluation and policy research Seminar (2 hr)  
Week 13 Overview and finalising the research proposal Seminar (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Please refer to information on Canvas.

Word count penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 2% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will exclude bibliography; footnote numbers; footnote citation; cover page and include body text; headings and sub-headings; quotations; anything other than numbers and citations in footnotes.

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer, and a link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508212&p=3476376

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Davies, P. and Francis, P. (Eds) (2018) Doing Criminological Research (3rd ed), London: Sage. Available as e-book in library.
  • Patten, M. and Newhart, M. (2018). Understanding Research Methods: An Overview of the Essentials (10th ed). New York: Taylor & Francis. Available as e-book in library.
  • Vogt, W.P., Vogt, E.R., Gardner, D.C. and Haeffele, L.M. (2012) When to Use What Research Design, New York: Guildford Press. Available as e-book in library.

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. promote understanding of the significance of criminological research in the development and evaluation of criminal justice policy and practice
  • LO2. read and critically evaluate crime research methodology and findings and the analysis of crime statistics
  • LO3. encourage students to examine the sources and forms of crime data, informed by an understanding of ethical approaches, theory, and issues in criminological research
  • LO4. understand the appropriate use of various research methods in criminology such as surveys, interviews, observations, quasi-experiments, and the analysis of secondary sources such as crime statistics.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Not available

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.