Dr. Brian L. WithrowCriminal Justice 7330
Fall 2010Index Number 366507
Criminal Justice 7330
Qualitative Research Methods
6:30pm-9:20pm, Mondays, HAC 203
Course description
A discussion of the methods and techniques used for achieving interpretable qualitative results in social research. Topics covered include ethnography, focus groups, in-depth interviewing and case studies. Students will be trained in inductive reasoning and coordinating qualitative with quantitative methods.
Required texts
Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, 2nd Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, ISBN: 9781412916066 (hardcover) or 9781412916073 (paperback).
Minichiello, V. and Kottler, J.A. (2009). Qualitative Journeys: Student and Mentor Experiences with Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, ISBN: 9781412956765 (hardcover) or 9781412956772 (paperback)
Office and classroom hours
Day
/ Office Hours / Classroom Hours (Room)Monday / By Appointment / 6:30pm-9:30pm (H203)
Tuesday / By Appointment / None*
Wednesday / By Appointment / 6:30pm-9:20pm (H207)
Thursday / By Appointment / None*
Friday / By Appointment / None*
*Additional time is scheduled weekly for graduate student supervision (CJ5101) and professional paper tutorials (CJ5370).
Contact information
Office phone: 512-245-3548Fax: 512-245-8063
Office number: HAC 10Cell phone: 512-779-4125
E-mail:
Mailing address: 601 University Drive, HAC, San Marcos, Texas 78666
Assessment
Student performance will be evaluated in three areas – formally written exercises and class attendance/participation.
Written exercises
Two formally written exercises (one at mid-term and the other at the end of the semester) are required. Each exercise is worth 100 points. These ‘papers’ provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to evaluate the research of other scholars. The professor will provide detailed direction on the nature of these assignments.
Attendance/Participation
Students are expected to be in class and on time during each of the thirteen scheduled class meetings. The nature of this seminar type course requires active student participation. Students will routinely be asked to summarize, evaluate and critique the required reading materials. Familiarization with supporting and reference materials found in the required textbooks is strongly encouraged. Students attending and actively participating in class will be awarded 16 points per class, for a total of 200 points. These points will be summed at the end of the semester and included in the final grade for the course. Students with perfect attendance/participation will receive an additional 8 points.
Grades
The final grade will be determined by the sum of all written exercise scores (2 @ 100points) and attendance points (13 class meetings days @ 16 points). There are 400 total points available. Please note that students that attend all scheduled class periods will earn 8 extra points that will be applied to the final grade.
Total points(exams, critiques and attendance) / Grade
360-400 / A
320-359 / B
280-319 / C
240-279 / D
240 / F
Attendance policy
Students are expected to be prepared and on time for each scheduled class meeting. Late arrivals and early departures may count as absences at the discretion of the professor. With the exception of absences due to university sponsored activities (e.g. attendance at academic conferences) there is no provision for an excused or unexcused absence. The professor will report chronically absent students to the registrar.
Make up policy
Students are expected to submit examinations and assignments on or before their scheduled due dates. Students that fail to do so must request permission from the professor to turn in an examination or assignment after the scheduled due date. Ideally, such permission should be requested in advance of the absence, if possible. Alternative due dates will be allowed only for personal illness, death or serious illness of a close family member, or at the discretion of the professor and must be completed within the week following their originally scheduled due dates. A student’s failure to comply with this rule will receive a grade of zero for that examination or assignment.
Class preparation and conduct
Students are expected to read all required materials prior to the scheduled lecture, to take notes, and to ask questions during class. The lecture is intended to supplement the material from the required text.
Criminal justice inquiry often requires discussions on controversial topics like civil rights, human sexuality, poverty, abortion and similar subjects. It is the professor’s intention to engage students in these discussions within the spirit of honest academic inquiry and research methods. Students are expected to express their perspectives and even argue their positions. The professor however will not allow a student to belittle another student during the course of these discussions.
Recording and electronic devices
Recording devices may only be used with the professor’s permission. The professor reserves the right to ask students to turn off recording devices when their presence restricts open discussions. All other electronic devices (e.g. pagers, telephones, and alarms) must be either turned off or adjusted to an inaudible mode while in class. Students leaving class to answer pages and telephone calls may be counted absent. Students may use laptop computers and other electronic devices to take notes in class. However, while in class students may not compose and receive text messages, access irrelevant websites, play games or otherwise distract themselves (and their classmates) from the lesson.
Student with learning disabilities and differences
The professor is committed to creating an environment wherein all students can be successful. Students with bona fide learning disabilities and differences are encouraged to informally seek advice from the professor on potential accommodations. More formally, in accordance with university policy and federal law, reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be made for qualified students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are asked to contact the Office of Disabilities Services who will then coordinate any necessary accommodations.
Texas State University Honor Code
All students taking classes in Criminal Justice must subscribe to the Texas State University Honor Code (UPPS 07.10.01). Failure to adhere to any component of the honor code entails consequences ranging from serious (e.g., unexcused absences, 0 points assigned for exam grades, etc.) to severe (a course grade of “F” or even dismissal from the university).
Tentative Schedule
Dates / Lectures, Examinations, Assignments and Key Dates (Chapter references)8/30 / Beginning lecture (Creswell 1-3, Minichiello and Kottler 1)
9/6 / Class does not meet – Labor Day Holiday
9/13 / Qualitative Approaches (Creswell 4 & 5, Appendixes A-F, Minichiello and Kottler 2)
9/20 / Qualitative Approaches (Creswell 4 & 5, Appendixes A-F, Minichiello and Kottler 2), cont’d
9/27 / Qualitative Research Design (Creswell 6-10)
10/4 / Qualitative Research Design (Creswell 6-10), cont’d
10/11 / Qualitative Research Design (Creswell 6-10), cont’d
10/18 / Qualitative Research Design (Creswell 6-10), cont’d, Mid-Term paper due
10/25 / Class does not meet – Instructor at IACP Conference
11/1 / Qualitative Journeys (Minichiello and Kottler 3-17)
11/8 / Qualitative Journeys (Minichiello and Kottler 3-17), cont’d
11/15 / Qualitative Journeys (Minichiello and Kottler 3-17), cont’d
11/22 / Qualitative Journeys (Minichiello and Kottler 3-17), cont’d
11/29 / Qualitative Journeys (Minichiello and Kottler 3-17), cont’d
12/6 / Qualitative Journeys (Minichiello and Kottler 3-17), cont’d
12/13 / Final paper due by midnight