Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Research Methods in Criminal Justice (Face-to-Face)

CJ 2500-02

Course: CJ 2500-02
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32406

Course Description

This is an introduction to the research process in criminal justice. Students will become familiar with the scientific research process, including data collection and understanding the link between theory and research. (Fall, Spring, Summer - Even Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D-

Required Texts

No required texts. 

Learning Outcomes

-Knowledge of research methods: Students will become familiar with the terminology associated with research in criminal justice and the social sciences.
-Communication: Students will develop their writing skills and learn how to articulate their arguments and ideas more thoroughly.
-Inquiry and Analysis: Students will learn how to recognize academic research and evaluate the rigor of research, as well as conduct their own research.

Course Requirements

Writing Fellow meetings and submissions: 120 points 
Research paper final: 100 points
Exam 3: 75 points
Exam 2: 75 points
Exam 1: 50 points
Activities (five total): 50 points
Research paper draft: 50 points
Attendance: 40 points
Literature review: 30 points
Research topic proposal: 25 points

Course Outline

 | August 29   | Introductions Syllabus | 
 | September 2   | Ch.1: Science, Society, and Criminological Research   | 
 | September 4   | Ch.2: The Process and Problems of Criminological Research   | 
 | September 9   | Ch.2: The Process and Problems of Criminological Research   | 
 | September 11  | Chapter 3: Research Ethics    | Research topic proposal due to writing fellow by 11:59pm
| September 14  | Activity 1 due by 11:59pm     | Activity 1 due by 11:59pm
| September 16   | Chapter 3: Research Ethics   | 
 | September 18  | Chapter 4: Conceptualization and Measurement       | First meeting with writing fellow due  Meeting write-up due by 11:59pm
| September 21  | Activity 2 due by 11:59pm   | Activity 2 due by 11:59pm 
| September 23  | Chapter 4: Conceptualization and Measurement       | Research topic proposal due to me by 11:59pm      
 | September 25  | Exam 1 review   | Literature review due to writing fellow by 11:59pm
| September 30  | Exam 1 (online) due by 11:59pm (October 1)  No class   | Exam 1 (online) due by 11:59pm (October 1)  No class 
| October 2   | Chapter 5: Sampling   |  
 | October 5  | Activity 3 due by 11:59pm    | Activity 3 due by 11:59pm
| October 7 | Chapter 5: Sampling   |  
 | October 9  | Chapter 8: Survey Research  Paper discussion | Second meeting with writing fellow due  Meeting write-up due by 11:59pm
| October 12  | Literature review due to me by 11:59pm   | Literature review due to me by 11:59pm  
 | October 14 | No Class: Fall Break | No Class: Fall Break  
 | October 16 | Chapter 8: Survey Research   |  
 | October 19  | Methodology and elements draft due to fellow by 11:59pm | Methodology and elements draft due to fellow by 11:59pm
| October 21 | Chapter 6: Causation and Research Design   |  
 | October 23 | Chapter 6: Causation and Research Design   |  
 | October 28   | Chapter 7: Experimental Design        |  
 | October 30 | Chapter 7: Experimental Designs       |  
 | November 2  | Activity 4 due by 11:59pm  Third meeting with writing fellow due  Meeting write-up due by 11:59pm   | Activity 4 due by 11:59pm  Third meeting with writing fellow due  Meeting write-up due by 11:59pm
| November 4  | Exam 2 Review | Exam 2 Review  Methodology and elements draft due to me by 11:59pm  
 | November 6  | Exam 2 (online) due by 11:59pm (November 10)  No class | Exam 2 (online) due by 11:59pm (November 10)  No class
| November 11    | Chapter 9 : Qualitative Methods | 
 | November 13 | Chapter 10: Analyzing Content | 
 | November 16   | Research paper final due to fellow by 11:59pm   | Research paper final due to fellow by 11:59pm
| November 18   | Chapter 10 : Analyzing Content  | 
| November 20   | Chapter 11: Evaluation and Policy Analysis  |  
 | November 23  | Activity 5 due by 11:59pm | Activity 5 due by 11:59pm  
 | November 24-28   | No Class-Thanksgiving Break | No Class-Thanksgiving Break
| December 2   | Chapter 11   |  
 | December 4 | Chapter 12  Exam 3 review |  
 | December 7    | Final meeting with writing fellow due  Meeting write-up due by 11:59pm  Research paper final due to me by 11:59pm | Final meeting with writing fellow due  Meeting write-up due by 11:59pm  Research paper final due to me by 11:59pm
| December 8-11   | Exam 3 (online)  Due by 12/11 at 11:59pm | Exam 3 (online)  Due by 12/11 at 11:59pm

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

If you miss an assignment, make-ups will rarely be permitted. You will have ample time to complete these. If you do, however, run into an issue, you need to let me know as soon as possible. Coming to me at the end of the semester saying you forgot will not be an approved reason to make-up the assignment. In some instances, assignments may only be made up for partial credit. This will be decided on an as needed basis.
If you turn in your writing/research assignments late, you will lose 1 point per day, up until 3 days after the assignment is due.  No papers will be accepted after the 3-day period without approval by the instructor (and proper late penalties will be applied).
You are always more than welcome to turn in assignments early, and it is in your best interest to talk to me sooner rather than later regarding conflicts.

Attendance Policy

Simply coming to class will not give you full points for this portion of your grade. In order to receive the maximum number of points, you must attend AND be attentive. Therefore, each class session is worth two points. This can be achieved in multiple ways. Students are expected to show up to every class (unless you have an excused absence); students arrive on time (no more than 5 minutes after class has started unless prior notice has been given); students actively participate (providing meaningful contributions to the discussion and/or asking substantive questions); students are actively paying attention (taking notes, watching videos, refraining from being on phones/laptops constantly and for non-academic purposes); students will be professional towards and respectful of other students and myself. Those who do not meet these requirements will not receive full credit for that day’s participation grade at my discretion.
Excused absences that are not school sanctioned will give you half credit for that day’s class

Course Fees

$12 fee

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.