Course Detail

CJ 450 Criminal Justice Research

CJ 450 IS Sec 1, University of Mississippi
[See UM Catalog for Description]

3 credit hours

Instructor Information:

Dr. Linda Keena

Instructor name:
Dr. Linda Keena

Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies
M306 Mayes Hall
(573) 587-2238 (cell)
ldkeena@olemiss.edu

Professor Keena is a former State of Missouri Adult Probation and Parole officer and for the last thirty years has taught various corrections courses, community and institutional based. She has established a record of scholarly publications which reflects a variety of criminal justice, restorative justice, religion, corrections, and community-based research topics.

Contact Information:

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the Email Your Instructor link in the Lessons or Content page. NOTE: Whenever sending email, please be sure to indicate your course title and number in the subject line. You can expect a response within 72 hours, although it may be longer on weekends. Many instructors reply within 24 hours.

For lesson or test administration issues, please contact the iStudy department:

The University of Mississippi
Division of Outreach and Continuing Education
iStudy
P. O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677

Phone: (662) 915-7313, toll-free (877) 915-7313
Fax: (662) 915-8826
E-mail: istudy@olemiss.edu

Course Description

This is a five module online course that examines research and data analysis in the field of criminal justice. You will learn the critical skills to evaluate research, conduct your own scientific research in criminal justice. More specifically, the course focuses on developing research designs emphasizing threats to validity; constructing research instruments; understanding the concepts of validity, hypothesis, reliability, measurement, sampling, and quasi-experimental construction, errors in reasoning, and application of research methods to criminal justice and criminology related fields. Each module includes a reading and writing assignment, quizzes, and a module exam. The course concludes with the submission of a CITI exam certificate and a comprehensive final exam.

Textbook Information:

Textbook information will be provided upon enrollment in your iStudy course.

Course Objectives:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • Understand the fundamentals of research methods in criminology and its value in the field.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of ethics, practices, and methods in research and data analysis.
  • Assess the validity, ethics, and conclusions drawn from research and data analysis.
  • Recognize the application of research methods in academic research and everyday life.

Course Outline:

This course consists of 5 instructional modules. Please note that the suggested Pacing Guide to complete the course in a traditional semester is written for Fall and Spring. Full summer students need to make adjustments due to the significantly shorter time period involved.

 

Reading Assignments

Due for Grades

Suggested Pacing Guide to complete the course in a traditional semester. *Summer session students will need to make adjustments due to the shorter time period*

Start Here

*You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance.*NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Syllabus Quiz

Week 1

Module 0

Introduction

Discussion board

Week 1

Module 1

 Chapters 1 and 2

Module 1 Writing Assignment
Chapter 1 Quiz Chapter 2 Quiz 
Module 1 Exam

Weeks 1 and 2

Module 2

Chapters 3, 4 and 5

 

Module 2 Writing Assignment
Chapter 3 Quiz Chapter 4 Quiz Chapter 5 Quiz 
Module 2 Exam

Weeks 3, 4 and 5

Module 3

Chapters 6 and 7

Module 3 Writing Assignment
Chapter 6 Quiz Chapter 7 Quiz  
Module 3 Exam

Weeks 6 and 7

MIDPOINT OF COURSE  

If you are a semester student, you must reach the midpoint of your course by the date specified in your information.
If you are a Flex UM student, you CANNOT WITHDRAW from this course after the lesson has been submitted.

All module assignments or exams needed to reach the midpoint of the course.

The exact date semester students are required to reach the midpoint is specified in your information.

Module 4

Chapters 8, 9 and 10

Module 4 Writing Assignment
Chapter 8 Quiz Chapter 9 Quiz Chapter 10 Quiz
Module 4 Exam

Weeks  8, 9, and 10

Module 5

Chapters 11 and 12

Module 5 Writing Assignment
Chapter 11 Quiz Chapter 12 Quiz 
Module 5 Exam

Weeks 11 and 12

 

CITI Exam

submit certificate of completion

Week 14

 

Final Exam

Comprehensive exam from all chapters

Week 15

Grading:

Grading information must include percentages of total grades for each category of assessment
GRADING SCALE
90 - 100% = A
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
60 - 69% = D
Below 59% = F

FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.

You must submit the lessons required to take the course exam(s). Lessons required but not submitted will receive a grade of zero. For the final exam, all coursework must be submitted and graded.