Research Methods in Law Enforcement and Security Studies

LESM 4002AED

Course Guide

LESM 4002AED

Course Guide

Research Methods in Law Enforcement and Security Studies

Course Start Date

N/A

Course Level

N/A

Length in Terms

N/A

Credits

N/A

Language

N/A

Fees ($) (including lab fees)

N/A

Future Terms

Quota and Schedule

Course Start Date	Course Level	Length in Terms	Credits	Language	Fees ($) (including lab fees)	Future Terms
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Quota and Schedule

Course Coordinator:

Dr Grace Au, BA (SFSU); MSocSc, MPil (HKU); PhD (CityU)

Course Developers:

Prof. John Hughes, Lancaster University; Dr Allan Jiao, Rowan University, New Jersey; Dr Raymond Lau

Advisory Prerequisite(s)

LESM 2001AED and LESM 2004AED

Aims

Familiarise students with the main philosophical traditions and debates underpinning methods of social research
Equip students with the main aspects of qualitative research methods
Equip students with the main elements of quantitative research methods
Equip students with techniques for using the Internet for research
Enable students to examine the evidential basis of research findings
Stimulate students to think about the relevance of social research for policy and administration, especially in relation to law enforcement and security studies.

Contents

The philosophy of social research: The positivist project and its problems
Interpretative philosophies, social realism and research methods
The nature of qualitative research
Types and methods of qualitative research
Collection and analysis of qualitative data
The process of quantitative research
Quantitative research methods
Collection and analysis of quantitative data
Internet research

Learning support

Tutorials and day schools will be used to assist students in studying, discussing the major content of the topics and scrutinising the views raised by scholars.

Students can also use the Online Learning Environment (OLE) which contains supplementary readings, tutorials PowerPoint, hyperlinks to useful websites and other relevant resources. The online discussion board offers an additional means for students to communicate with each other and to interact with the Course Coordinator and tutor.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (weighting 60%)
Students are required to submit four assignments.

Examination (weighting 40%)
The final examination for LESM 4002AED Research Methods in Law Enforcement and Security Studies will be three hours' duration and have a value of 40% of the total course grade.

Online requirement

Students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Equipment and Software

Students are required to have SPSS software.

Set book(s)

There is no set book.