The SAGE Guide to Writing in Criminal Justice Research Methods equips students with transferable writing skills that can be applied across the field of criminal justice—both academically and professionally. Authors Jennifer M. Allen and Steven Hougland
interweave professional and applied writing, academic writing, and information literacy, with the result being a stronger, more confident writer, researcher, and student in criminal justice. Focused on teaching students how to write in the academic setting while introducing them to a number of other writing tools specific to research methods, such as writing literature reviews, abstracts, proposals, and more. The perfect companion for any criminal justice research methods course, this brief text focuses on key topics that will benefit students in their classes and in the field.
Cuprins
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1: The Basics of Writing
Basic Grammar Rules
Critical Thinking Skills, Academic Writing, and Professional Writing
Writing for the Criminal Justice Professions
Policing Reports
Corrections Reports
Probation/Parole Reports
Court Reports
Chapter Summary
Additional Reading
Questions for Consideration
Exercise Answers
Chapter 2: What Is Information Literacy?
Information Literacy
Digital Literacy, Computer Literacy, and Technology Literacy Skills
Chapter Summary
Questions for Consideration
Chapter 3: Writing Literature Reviews and Abstracts
Identifying and Narrowing a Research Topic
Locating Sources
Organizing the Review
Writing the Review
What Is a Literature Review?
Writing an Abstract
Chapter Summary
Questions for Consideration
Chapter 4: Research Designs, Data Collection Methods, and Data Analysis
How to Begin
Developing a Research Question
Developing a Hypothesis
Types of Research Designs
Data Collection Methods/Measurement Instruments
Data Analysis
Other Information Included in the Methods Section
Chapter Summary
Questions for Consideration
Chapter 5: Writing Research and Grant Proposals
Writing a Research Proposal
Writing a Conference Proposal
Writing a Grant Proposal
Additional Grant-Writing Suggestions
Chapter Summary
Questions for Consideration
Chapter 6: Academic Paper Formats: What Is APA Formatting?
Research, Publication, and the APA Style Rules
Types of Publications
APA Formatting and Ethical and Legal Standards
Modern Language Association and the Chicago Manual of Style
Chapter Summary
Questions for Consideration
Chapter 7: The Academic Research Paper
The Research Writing Process
Conducting Research
Locating Sources
Google Scholar
Use Country Codes
Use Databases
Evaluating Sources
How to Read a Scholarly Article
Writing a Literature Review
Writing the Essay
Working and Annotated Bibliographies
Chapter Summary
Additional Reading
Questions for Consideration
Exercise Answers
Appendix A: EBSCOhost Law and Political Science Database Search Results
Appendix B: Sample Student Essay
References
Despre autor
Steven M. Hougland is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He is a retired law enforcement officer with 30 years of policing and corrections experience at the local and state level. Dr. Hougland has published in the areas of police use of force, law enforcement accreditation, and police ethics.