Issue in research designSteps in researchStepsSlide 4Slide 5Research proposals & grantsComponents of a proposalResearch articleConceptualizationOperational definitionCharacteristics of measurementSlide 12Some forms of measurementForms of measurementMeasuring crimeUCRIncident based measuresNIBRSNCVSOther surveysOther CJ recordsIssue in research designSteps in researchIdeaReview of the literatureUse of journal articles Using the internet Data bases: psychinfo, proquest (scholarly journals), NCJRS, Lexus-NexisStepsRe-evaluation of the original ideaConceptualization, specification of terms Gun control Recidivism Violence in prisonsOperationalization—how will concepts be measured? ExamplesStepsPopulation and sampleResearch method(s)Experiments, surveys, observation, record analysis, evaluationData processingStatistical analysis, descriptive and inferentialStepsDiscussion, theoretical and practical applicationsAPA styleResearch proposals & grantsGranting agenciesi.e., MO Department of Public Safety, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), National Institute of Corrections (NIC), Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)Open grantsRequests for Proposals (RFPs)Components of a proposalAbstract or Executive SummaryIntroduction: problem, literature reviewMethod: subjects section, instruments section, procedure (data collection)ScheduleBudgetBibliography and appendicesResearch articleAbstract, Introduction, Method section with 3 possible subsections (subjects, instruments, procedure), Results, Discussion, Bibliography, AppendicesResearch article in the past tense, includes results and discussionProposal in the future tense, no results and discussion, but has schedule & budgetConceptualizationSpecify what is meant by a particular termDimension: specifiable aspect of a conceptLiberal vs. conservativeWhat are some aspects of this concept?Gun controlOperational definitionHow a concept will be measuredPrison violence—how will we “count” it?IncidentsPerceptionsMorale in an agencyCitizen satisfaction/dissatisfaction of policeTrait of aggressionCharacteristics of measurement1. Levels of measurementNominalOrdinalInterval/ratioMust be constructedStatistical analyses dependent on level of measumentCharacteristics of measurement2. Reliability: test-retest, inter-rater reliability, split-half3. Validity: face, content, criterion-related, constructConvergent and discriminant validitySome forms of measurementScales and indicesUse of multiple questions, added together to create measurementMMPI—your responses compared to that of known psychiatric groups. Responses for a particular scale are added togetherForms of measurement TypologiesCriminal behavior systems.Measuring crimeUCRVictimization surveys, NCVS, National Crime Victimization SurveySelf-reportUCRMajor problemsUnreported crime—misinterpretation of crime ratesDark FigureCitizens do not report, and sometimes police do not (can be political, use of discretion)Hierarchy ruleIncident based measuresSupplementary homicide reports (SHR)Collects information about victims, offenders age gender and race, relationship between victim & offender, weapon, location, circumstancesNational incident-based reporting system (NIBRS): broader in terms of offenses, information about offenders and victimsNIBRSAlso includes victimless crimes, attempted and completed, drug related offenses, computer crimesRequires more time, police may selectively reportVoluntaryNCVSConducted by Census Bureau since 1972Interview survey technique, face-faceTends to miss business crimes, victimless crimes, status offensesDoes not include murderRecall errors-can’t remember, telescoping, acquaintance crimesOther surveysCommunity surveysMonitoring the future: annual surveys of high school seniorsSelf report studiesUse in combination with arrests as a measure of criminal behaviorOther CJ recordsArrestsConvictionsRecidivism All are affect by discretion and by changes in policiesJuvenile statistics are particularly vulnerable to these