NCJ Number
177385
Date Published
1998
Length
485 pages
Annotation
This textbook explains the basic concepts of social science research methods and applies these methods to the study of crime and criminal justice policy, using examples from varied facets of criminal justice research.
Abstract
Introductory chapters explain the role of scientific inquiry in criminal justice, theory and criminal justice research, and causation and validity. Five chapters on the structuring of criminal justice inquiry focus on general issues in research design; concepts, operationalization, and measurement; experimental and quasi-experimental research design; and ethical issues in criminal justice research. The chapters on modes of observation include an overview of data collection and sampling and discussions of survey research, other ways of asking questions, field research, the use of agency records, content analysis, and analysis of secondary data. Further chapters focus on program evaluation and policy analysis and the interpretation of data. Glossary; index; appended information on the use of traditional and computer-based information sources, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, the research report, sources of secondary data, and the distribution of chi square; and approximately 300 references