Overview

Indicative course content:

-Evidence based policing – concept and use in contemporary policing -The foundations of research methods -Research questions and design -Quantitative methods and analyses – surveys, ‘big date’, content analyses -Qualitative methods and analyses – interviews and focus groups, visual data -Mixed Methods research -Limitations of evidence based policing

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- to D+Assessment is based on the degree of engagement with academic literature and student's ability to summarise and critically analyse theory.For a threshold grade, engagement with the academic literature is weak; the student's ability to summarise theory will be mainly descriptive; and there will be little critical analysis and understanding of how theory relates to policing practice.

-good -C- to B+Assessment is based on the degree of engagement with academic literature and student's ability to summarise and critically analyse theory.For a good and very good grade, there will be good engagement with the academic literature, reflected in the use of a wide range of academic sources; the discussion of the academic theory will go beyond mere description and there will be a critical analysis of theory and how it is applied to policing practice.

-excellent -A- to A+Assessment is based on the degree of engagement with academic literature and student's ability to summarise and critically analyse theory.For an excellent grade, there will be extensive engagement with the relevant academic literature; a sophisticated presentation of academic theory and a well developed critical analysis of theory. Students will show an excellent grasp of how theory relates to practice.

Learning Outcomes

• Be able to apply particular methods or a selection of methods appropriately with regard to evidence based policing

• Demonstrate an understanding of the foundations of research methods

• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues around the management, analysis and presentation of data from research methods

• Examine the strengths and weaknesses of a range of research methods

• Show a critical appreciation of the issues involved in the design, planning, conduct, and end product(s) of research methods

• Show a critical understanding of the range of research methods available for evidence based policing