Research Methods I:
Research Design
Crim 860 - Fall 2025
[Last updated 25 Sept 2025]
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05 September |
ORGANIZATIONAL
ISSUES * The Methods Stream(s) in SFU/Criminology * Project Proposal and Ethics Review * Get your free copies of NVivo (download) and SPSS (lab access) * Other software available to grad
students/faculty/staff
* Other funded opportunities for grad students to keep in mind |
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12
September |
WHY MIX METHODS IN CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH? * Preface and Chapter 1 (Perspectives on Research) from
RMSHS * Dawadi et al (2021) Mixed
Methods Research –Types, Challenges, Criticisms * Submit a 1-pager before class on either of this week’s readings |
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19
September |
ETHICAL
ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH *
Chapter
3 (Ethics in Social Research) from Research Decisions (2014) * Palys & Lowman (2019) Eight challenges to research
confidentiality in Canada * A Criminology Code of Ethics: * Code
of Ethics of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences *
Submit a 1-pager
before class on either Chapter 3 or Palys & Lowman (2019) * An interview
assignment will be given this day that is due next week |
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26
September |
GETTING STARTED: Scouting the Literature; Sampling * Brancati (2018) Conducting a
Literature Review * Some library resources regarding Criminological sources (thank you, Daya) * Chapter 5 (Sampling &
Recruitment) from RMSHS * Special Guest: Chris Atchison, Co-author of RMSHS and Research
Administrator for School of Population & Public Health at UBC/Medicine
and for Wavefront Centre *
Assignment: Complete the TCPS ethics tutorial and send completion certificate
to Palys before next class *
Submit a 1-pager
before class on either of this week’s readings |
|
03
October |
OPERATIONALIZATION * Bernard (2013) Scales
and Scaling * Saldana (2016) An introduction to codes and coding *
Oleinik (2020). The
politics behind how governments control coronavirus data * Your term project
proposal is due no later than today *
Submit a 1-pager
before class on either the Bernard or Saldana reading * Make
sure you have both NVivo and SPSS on your laptop before class |
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10
October |
EXPERIMENTAL
APPROACHES * Chapter 6 (Eliminating Rival Plausible Explanations: The
Experiment) from RMSHS * Simpson (2024) Experimental methods in Criminology * Cook (2018) Twenty-Six
Assumptions that make Random Assignment “Golden” * Campbell & Stanley (1969) Sources
of Invalidity for Designs 1-6 * Submit a 1-pager before class on any of this week’s readings |
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17
October |
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL
APPROACHES, EVALUATION *
Chapter 7 (From Manipulative to Analytic Control: Quasi-Experimentation) from
RMSHS *
Hutchinson (2019) Evaluation
Failures: Conclusion * Special
guest: Dr. Jen Wong, talking about contracting
opportunities and associated challenges * Submit a 1-pager before class on either of this week’s readings |
|
24
October |
CASE
STUDY APPROACHES *
Chapter 8 (Case Study Approaches) from RMSHS * Stake (2003): Case studies * Submit a 1-pager before class on either of this week’s readings |
|
31
October |
CRITICAL
PERSPECTIVES ON RESEARCH DESIGN * Hall (2024) Using an IRM to Decolonize & Define Self-Determination and Indigenous Governance * Cunneen, Rowe & Tauri (2017) Indigenous Epistemologies and Methodologies * Submit a 1-pager before class on any of this week’s readings |
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07
November |
INTERACTIVE
TECHNIQUES: SURVEYS/INTERVIEWS/ORAL HISTORY * Chapter 9 (Surveys &
Questionnaires) and Chapter 10 (Interviews) from RMSHS * Hesse-Biber & Leavy (2011): Oral history * Dietzel et al (2025): AI
can affect anonymous surveys * Submit a 1-pager before class on either the P&A or H-B&L reading |
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14
November |
ETHNOGRAPHY
& COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES *
Chapter 11 (Observation, Ethnography and Participatory Action Research) from
RMSHS * Oscar
et al (2018): Negotiations
and Research Bargains: Gaining Access * Godderis & Root
(2023) Centering Reciprocity and Accountability in Community-Based
Research * Special Guest: Dr. Andrea Krüsi of SFU/Crim
on her work in the DES * Submit a 1-pager before class on any of this week’s readings |
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21
November |
DISSEMINATING
YOUR RESEARCH: Writing, Presenting, Media *
Chapter 15 (Disseminating Your Research) from RMSHS * Hewitt
et al (2016) The "Art" of Writing Papers for Criminology Journals *
Liebenberg (2016) Writing to Learn: Why We Should Write, Rewrite, and Rewrite
Again * Sousa
& Clark (2017) Getting the most out of academic conference attendance * Reddick (2016) Using social media to promote scholarship |
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28
November |
PROJECT
PRESENTATIONS – Schedule/Format to be determined |