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Research endeavours in the social sciences and humanities take many forms. Characteristic of good research is good research design. By equipping students with the knowledge about the various elements of good research design – connection between theory and research, research questions, data collection and analysis methods – students are better able to understand and identify what constitutes robust and reliable research. Developing this knowledge base is beneficial for students whilst progressing through under-graduate studies and into future careers or further research, as it fosters the ability to critically appraise research merits, as well as the practical application of research in various contexts.

Every day we are presented with or exposed to research findings of some kind. It features in news media, political campaigns, marketing schemes, and scholarly articles, to name a few. Making sense of research and understanding how it contributes to the development of policy and practice is essential for any budding researcher, practitioner or student. This course adopts an interactive and practical approach to introduce students to different types of research, research methods, analysis, reporting, and ethical considerations. Students will also examine why this is central to assessing the value of research. This course has been designed to provide students with an interactive learning experience to consolidate the theoretical and conceptual principles being taught, through practical application in a criminological interest research project.

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. identify and discuss the difference between research types and apply the appropriate type in research projects;
2. explain the importance and centrality of theory in research and apply the appropriate theory in research;
3. apply fundamental research concepts to a research project;
4. work collaboratively with others in designing a research project;
5. apply key elements of the research process and articulate why these are important in assessing research merits;
6. identify and explain ethical considerations in research and ways to mitigate research risks.