Introduction / Overview

This class is offered through MSU's Virtual University as part of the Masters of Science in Criminal Justice with a Specialization in Security Management delivered via the Internet. The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the procedures, concepts, and approaches involved in planning and carrying out scientific research in the field of criminal justice.

It will be assumed that all students have had some exposure to basic research methodology. The initial portion of the course will be directed to consideration of the basic principles of research design and to the interpretation and analysis of published research studies. Thereafter, the emphasis of the course will be on techniques of describing and statistically analyzing data, giving particular attention to common problems and approaches used in the preparation of a Master's theses or research project paper.

This is a virtual course which gives you an opportunity to take this course from your own home or office. Thus, major portions of this course will be covered by a number of units presented on course web site. Each unit will be a substitute for a conventional lecture in a regular classroom. Although the course is virtual in nature, you are more than welcome to communicate with the instructor by more traditional means, such as telephone, mail, and fax.