1. DEMONSTRATE A KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE APPLICATION AND OPERATION OF CURRENT RESEARCH AND ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON POLICING AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
(Application, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning)

2. COMMUNICATE KNOWLEDGE IN THE FORM OF WRITTEN REPORTS, APPROPRIATELY INTERPRET ANALYSIS RESULTS, SHOWING UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AND THE UNDERPINNING THEORY.
(Analysis, Application, Communication, Enquiry, Problem Solving)

3. REFLECT ON THE LEARNING PROCESS
(Reflection)

1. Critiquing Policing Research 40% 500 words
2. Research report 60% 800 words Final Yes


Summative assessment:
1. Critiquing Policing Research – Students will produce critical evaluation of an approved journal article detailing a piece of policing research. This assessment will consist of no more than 500 words. (1 & 2)

2. Research Report - Using knowledge utilised during this module and work conducted during the practical sessions, produce a report detailing the chosen research topic, methods and findings. This assessment will consist of no more than 800 words. (1, 2 & 3)

Formative assessment:
Formative assessments will take place throughout the semester with informal knowledge checks and a group presentation. Formative feedback will be provided during the same sessions.

In this module, students will study many of the scientific analytical techniques used in Policing and Criminal investigation. Topics covered will include What is Evidence based Policing, the `What Works` agenda, the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods, problem-based learning activity, ethics and the use of analytical and presentation tools such as SPSS and Excel. Previous policing research explored within sessions provides students with an understanding of the research field and inspiration for conducting their own mini-research project. The module equips students with the skills to think and write in a critical manner and conduct reflective practice within their research.

Practical sessions provide the students with "hands on" experience, to support the theoretical principles of the techniques. The production of individual written analytical reports allows the students, the opportunity to interpret and process data derived from using contemporary and relevant analytical techniques.

Interactive lectures (13 x 2h in Semester 2) will explain the theoretical research and analytical techniques.
Workshop or tutorial activities (4 x 3h in Semester 2) in small groups will be run to encourage utilisation of the skills in handling, manipulation and interpretation of data and on a practical application basis to develop understanding.

The remaining 109 hours will involve directed reading, revision and production of research and analysis reports to support understanding of the theory.

Barbour, R.S. (2014). Introducing qualitative research: a student’s guide. 2nd ed. London: Sage

Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods. 5th ed. Oxford: OUP.

Chatfield, T. (2018). Critical Thinking. London: Sage Publishing.

Cottrell, S. (2017). Palgrave Study Skills. Critical Thinking Skills. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using SPSS. 5th ed. London: Sage Publications.

Hagan, F. E. (2014). Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology 9th ed. Harlow: Pearson.

Knapp, H. (2017). Introductory Statistics Using SPSS. London: Sage Publications.

Lynda.com (2018). SPSS Statistics Essential Training. (Online) Available at: https://www.lynda.com/SPSS-tutorials/SPSS-Statistics-Essential-Training/182376-2.html?srchtrk=index%3a1%0alinktypeid%3a2%0aq%3aspss%0apage%3a1%0as%3arelevance%0asa%3atrue%0aproducttypeid%3a2

Pallant, S. (2016). SPSS survival manual: a step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. 6th ed. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.

Silverman, D. (2013). Doing qualitative research: a practical handbook. 4th ed. London: SAGE

Silverman, D. (2015). Interpreting qualitative data. 5th ed. London: SAGE

Walker, J. T. and Maddan, S. (2013). Statistics in criminology and criminal justice: analysis and interpretation. 4th ed. Burlington (MA): Jones and Bartlett Learning.

Appropriately equipped IT laboratory with computer access for student tutorials. All IT terminals quipped with software (Qualtrics, Excel, SPSS) necessary for the module. Lecture room capacity for equipped with facilities for power point and other visual presentations, OHP and white board.

In this module, students will study many of the scientific analytical techniques used in Policing and Criminal investigation. Topics covered will include What is Evidence based Policing, the `What Works` agenda, the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods, problem-based learning activity, ethics and the use of analytical and presentation tools such as SPSS and Excel. Previous policing research explored within sessions provides students with an understanding of the research field and inspiration for conducting their own mini-research project. The module equips students with the skills to think and write in a critical manner and conduct reflective practice within their research. Practical sessions provide the students with "hands on" experience, to support the theoretical principles of the techniques. The production of individual written analytical reports allows the students, the opportunity to interpret and process data derived from using contemporary and relevant analytical techniques.