CRIJ 3300 Applied Research Methods in Criminal Justice
Order ID 53563633773 Type Essay Writer Level Masters Style APA Sources/References 4 Perfect Number of Pages to Order 5-10 Pages Description/Paper Instructions
CRIJ 3300 Applied Research Methods in Criminal Justice
Dr. Dickinson
Term project instructions
For this assignment, you will create several sections of a research proposal. You must write a short paper that states 1) your research question and hypothesis (if applicable); 2) the population of interest; 3) the units of analysis; 4) the variables of interest; 5) the background and rationale for your proposed project—this section must include 4 outside references; 6) your sampling strategy; 7) any potential threats to validity; 8) any possible ethical and practical issues; 9) any limitations of the proposed study; and 10) a reference page. The paper must also include a short survey consisting of 20-30 survey questions. Details about what I expect for each of these parts are listed below. **Please note that you are not actually going to conduct this project—it is just a proposal for a project. This assignment is worth 100 points.
Important date:
- Final draft due 3/9/19 @ 11:59pm MST
- Submit paper on Blackboard (I recommend doing this early as this will run the paper through SafeAssign—this way you can check yourself for accidental plagiarism)
- I will deduct 5 points from your total score for each day you are late submitting the paper on Blackboard up to a maximum of 35 points. If you are more than a week late submitting the paper on Blackboard, you will receive a 0 on the assignment.
The paper:
The actual paper should be written in narrative form (i.e., full sentences, full paragraphs). This paper should be from 5 – 9 pages long. This section of the term project is worth 70 points. The paper should include each of the following sections. The sections should all begin with a bold-faced, centered heading.
- Research question: In this section you will tell me what your research question is. That is, what are you proposing to study?
- Remember, that this is a survey project. Hence, you must create a research question that can be answered using a survey.
- Remember that surveys are good at capturing opinions, perceptions, etc.
- Some research questions willhave independent and dependent variables (e.g., “Are UTEP students that were raised by drug using parents more likely to smoke marijuana?”; “Are former victims of crime more likely to own guns?”). Other research questions are exploratory and will nothave independent and dependent variables (e.g., “How do UTEP students feel about gun control?”; How should sex offenders be treated after release from prison?”).
- For questions with independent and dependent variables you must state a hypothesis or hypotheses.
- Population of interest:In this section you will tell me the population that you are interested in finding something out about? For instance, is it all Americans? Is it all Texans? All El Paso residents? All college students? Etc.
- Remember that the population is the group that you are trying to find something out about. The sample is the group that you are actually surveying.
- Units of analysis:In this section you will tell me what units of analysis will your proposed study examine? Individuals, Groups, Social Organizations, or Social Artifacts?
- Variables of interest: This section will likely be 1-3 pages long. Here you will tell me:
- What variables you will be collecting data on. If you have independent and dependent variables, clearly identify them. Also identify any control variables in your study—that is, variables that may have some influence on your results. Common control variables include demographic ones such as age, race, gender, and social class.
- The key part of this section is for you to provide conceptual definitions of your variables. Do not assume that I know how YOU conceptualize these variables. Provide a clear definition of each variable so that I know exactly how you do and do not define them.
- You should also note which of the survey measures relate to your variables.
- Example: “In the present study I define drug use as the use of an illicit drug such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine, as well as the use of prescription drugs in a manner not prescribed or the use of prescription drugs prescribed to other individuals. Survey questions 7-15 are measures of this variable.”
- Prior research/Rationale and Background: For this section, you must find four outside sources that cover either your proposed topic/research question or something related to it. You must then provide short reviews of this literature that are 1-2 paragraphs long.
- The four sources must be academic/scholarly sources. Websites, popular magazines, blogs, vlogs, newspapers, etc. do not count. Articles from peer-reviewed journals and books are appropriate.
- The book assigned for the course does not count as an outside source.
- I recommend going to Google Scholar and typing in your topic as the search terms. Most of the sources that come up are acceptable for this assignment. If on campus, there will likely be hyperlinks to the materials to the right of the respective articles that will take to a webpage wherein you can download them. If off campus you can go to this webpage https://admin.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=74367and download the UTEP VPN onto your computer. Then connect through the VPN and you will be able to gain access to sources just as if you were on campus.
- Sampling strategy:In this section you will tell me what sampling strategy you are going to use.
- State what sampling strategy are you going to use.
- Describe the sampling method.
- Describe why it is appropriate to use.
- Threats to validity:Discuss any potential threats to validity that your study design may face.
- State at least twothreats to validity that may affect the results of your proposed study.
- Define these threats to validity.
- Ethical issues:Discuss any ethical issues the proposed study may face and how you are planning to eliminate and/or minimize them.
- Describe one or more ethical issues you may have to consider.
- Describe what measures you would include in the study to counter these ethical issues.
- References
- The references must be in APA format. Please make sure to include all the references used in the study.
Survey:
You must also include a survey that includes questions that can be used to collect data on the variables of interest and their relationships with each other. This part of the term project is worth 30 points. The survey should look as professional as possible. To this end, please be careful to pay attention to the spacing of questions, the ordering of questions, and the overall design of the survey. Also make certain to pay attention to whether your questions and answer categories are exclusive and exhaustive and are worded properly (e.g., no double-barreled questions). The survey must include: 1) Open and close-ended questions; 2) at least one contingency or matrix question; and 3) questions relating to all of your variables. The survey must include at least 20-25 questions. It is permissible to take questions from pre-existing surveys. If you choose to do this, however, you must provide a reference to the source where you located these examples on your reference page.
Citation and references:
When using pre-existing questions or referencing the ideas of others that are not your own (as you will in the prior research/rational and background section) please use APA formatting. Refer to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
for APA guidelines. The reference section will be the very last part of the paper section of this assignment. IMPORTANT: Please only use APA formatting for your in-text and reference page citations.
Writing:
This exercise will require that you write clearly and concisely. If you require assistance in writing, I strongly urge you to seek assistance from the writing center. You will be judged on grammar and spelling as well as content so make sure that you revise and edit your paper. Do not use contractions!!!
Writing suggestions for paper:
- Avoid first-and-second-person (I, me, my, we, our).
- Avoid slang and clichés (since the beginning of time, putting the cart before the horse, better said than done, etc.).
- Do not use contractions in formal writing (can’t, wouldn’t, don’t, etc.).
- Be consistent with verb tense. A common mistake is to alternate between present and past tense.
- Make sure that you do not use plural verbs with singular nouns or vice versa.
- Avoid over-generalizing statements such as “Most people think” & “Everybody knows.”
- Answer the question that you are asked. Read the assignment questions carefully.
Format:
The paper should meet the following formatting requirements. Points will be deducted for failing to comply:
- Must be typed!
- 12-pt. black Times New Roman font
- Double-spaced
- 1-inch margins all around
- Page numbered in lower right corner
- Indent first line of each paragraph
- No extra lines between paragraphs
- Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar
What you are going to turn in:
This is how I want you to organize the various parts of the term project when turning it in.
- Title page—please include the name of the assignment, your name, my name, the course number and name, the semester, and overall page length of all sections combined. Please see below for an example title page.
- The paper
- The survey
RUBRIC
QUALITY OF RESPONSE NO RESPONSE POOR / UNSATISFACTORY SATISFACTORY GOOD EXCELLENT Content (worth a maximum of 50% of the total points) Zero points: Student failed to submit the final paper. 20 points out of 50: The essay illustrates poor understanding of the relevant material by failing to address or incorrectly addressing the relevant content; failing to identify or inaccurately explaining/defining key concepts/ideas; ignoring or incorrectly explaining key points/claims and the reasoning behind them; and/or incorrectly or inappropriately using terminology; and elements of the response are lacking. 30 points out of 50: The essay illustrates a rudimentary understanding of the relevant material by mentioning but not full explaining the relevant content; identifying some of the key concepts/ideas though failing to fully or accurately explain many of them; using terminology, though sometimes inaccurately or inappropriately; and/or incorporating some key claims/points but failing to explain the reasoning behind them or doing so inaccurately. Elements of the required response may also be lacking. 40 points out of 50: The essay illustrates solid understanding of the relevant material by correctly addressing most of the relevant content; identifying and explaining most of the key concepts/ideas; using correct terminology; explaining the reasoning behind most of the key points/claims; and/or where necessary or useful, substantiating some points with accurate examples. The answer is complete. 50 points: The essay illustrates exemplary understanding of the relevant material by thoroughly and correctly addressing the relevant content; identifying and explaining all of the key concepts/ideas; using correct terminology explaining the reasoning behind key points/claims and substantiating, as necessary/useful, points with several accurate and illuminating examples. No aspects of the required answer are missing. Use of Sources (worth a maximum of 20% of the total points). Zero points: Student failed to include citations and/or references. Or the student failed to submit a final paper. 5 out 20 points: Sources are seldom cited to support statements and/or format of citations are not recognizable as APA 6th Edition format. There are major errors in the formation of the references and citations. And/or there is a major reliance on highly questionable. The Student fails to provide an adequate synthesis of research collected for the paper. 10 out 20 points: References to scholarly sources are occasionally given; many statements seem unsubstantiated. Frequent errors in APA 6th Edition format, leaving the reader confused about the source of the information. There are significant errors of the formation in the references and citations. And/or there is a significant use of highly questionable sources. 15 out 20 points: Credible Scholarly sources are used effectively support claims and are, for the most part, clear and fairly represented. APA 6th Edition is used with only a few minor errors. There are minor errors in reference and/or citations. And/or there is some use of questionable sources. 20 points: Credible scholarly sources are used to give compelling evidence to support claims and are clearly and fairly represented. APA 6th Edition format is used accurately and consistently. The student uses above the maximum required references in the development of the assignment. Grammar (worth maximum of 20% of total points) Zero points: Student failed to submit the final paper. 5 points out of 20: The paper does not communicate ideas/points clearly due to inappropriate use of terminology and vague language; thoughts and sentences are disjointed or incomprehensible; organization lacking; and/or numerous grammatical, spelling/punctuation errors 10 points out 20: The paper is often unclear and difficult to follow due to some inappropriate terminology and/or vague language; ideas may be fragmented, wandering and/or repetitive; poor organization; and/or some grammatical, spelling, punctuation errors 15 points out of 20: The paper is mostly clear as a result of appropriate use of terminology and minimal vagueness; no tangents and no repetition; fairly good organization; almost perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word usage. 20 points: The paper is clear, concise, and a pleasure to read as a result of appropriate and precise use of terminology; total coherence of thoughts and presentation and logical organization; and the essay is error free. Structure of the Paper (worth 10% of total points) Zero points: Student failed to submit the final paper. 3 points out of 10: Student needs to develop better formatting skills. The paper omits significant structural elements required for and APA 6th edition paper. Formatting of the paper has major flaws. The paper does not conform to APA 6th edition requirements whatsoever. 5 points out of 10: Appearance of final paper demonstrates the student’s limited ability to format the paper. There are significant errors in formatting and/or the total omission of major components of an APA 6th edition paper. They can include the omission of the cover page, abstract, and page numbers. Additionally the page has major formatting issues with spacing or paragraph formation. Font size might not conform to size requirements. The student also significantly writes too large or too short of and paper 7 points out of 10: Research paper presents an above-average use of formatting skills. The paper has slight errors within the paper. This can include small errors or omissions with the cover page, abstract, page number, and headers. There could be also slight formatting issues with the document spacing or the font Additionally the paper might slightly exceed or undershoot the specific number of required written pages for the assignment. 10 points: Student provides a high-caliber, formatted paper. This includes an APA 6th edition cover page, abstract, page number, headers and is double spaced in 12’ Times Roman Font. Additionally, the paper conforms to the specific number of required written pages and neither goes over or under the specified length of the paper. GET THIS PROJECT NOW BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK TO PLACE THE ORDER
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