| CODE | CRI5001 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Dissertation | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 80 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Criminology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Students will be requested to select a specific research area based on a criminological approach. Students will be guided to undertake studies that offer a valid contribution to knowledge related to key criminological themes, theories and practices. Students will focus their study on a limited interest area, developing their research, investigative and reporting skills resulting in an in-depth study addressing a criminological topic. This will strengthen and enhance the students area of specialisation whilst increasing criminological knowledge. The tutors will assist students in formulating a research question on their dissertation topic; evaluate the existing literature that bears on the selected research question; formulate a research design that permits the collection of data and observations with which to answer the research question; analyze the data collected by using quantitative or qualitative techniques; synthesize the research and; make recommendations from the results of the research. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims to assist students in: - demonstrating a deep understanding and knowledge of the subject under examination following a thorough review of existing literature and research; - demonstrating an ability to plan, manage and conduct appropriate research in the field; - being able to analyse and interpret findings giving meaning to identified trends, phenomena and findings; - being able to document, communicate and to demonstrate and share findings with other researchers through well planned, presented and explained relevant documentation; - being able to collate, document and present a dissertation respecting academic standards. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Evaluate the existing literature that bears on the selected research question; - Analyze the data collected by using quantitative or qualitative techniques; - Make recommendations from the results of the research. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Design and conduct research studies as well as write an academic paper; - Formulate a research question on a relevant topic; - Formulate a research design that permits the collection of data and observations with which to answer the research question; - Synthesize the research and write a coherent academic piece of work. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Bennett, R., Alberti, G., Cibik, A., Eremenko, T., Formosa, S., Formosa Pace, J., Jiminez-Buedo, M., Lynch, K., Salazar, L., and Ubeda, P., (2022). Bringing about the data revolution in development: what data skills do aspiring development professionals need? Journal of International Development. J.Int.Dev.2022;1–17. Wiley, doi:10.1002/jid.3642. - Formosa, S., Formosa Pace, J. & Sciberras, E., (Eds). (2022). Virtualis: Social, Spatial and Technological Spaces in Real and Virtual Domains - SpatialTrain III, Planning Authority. - Formosa S., Scicluna S., Azzopardi J., Formosa Pace J., Calafato T., (2011), The Research Road We Make: Statistics for the Uninitiated, NSO, Valletta. - Tartaro, C., (2021), Research methods in criminal justice and criminology, Routledge. - Egami, N., & Hartman, E., (2022). Elements of External Validity: Framework, Design, and Analysis. American Political Science Review. 1-19. 10.1017/S0003055422000880. - Mesarcik, M., Ranguelova, E., Boonstra, A.J., & Van Nieuwpoort, R., (2022). Improving novelty detection using the reconstructions of nearest neighbours. Array, 14, 100182.10.1016/j.array.2022.100182. - McLaughlin E. & Muncie J., (eds), (2001), The Sage Dictionary of Criminology. Sage Publications, London. - Nordby, J. J. (2012). Scientific Foundations of Crime Scene Reconstruction: Introducing Method to Mayhem. [PhD Thesis]. 10.1201/b13034. - Pádua, L., Sousa, J., Vanko, J., Hruška, J., Adão, T., PeI, E., ... & Sousa, J. J. (2020). Digital reconstitution of road traffic accidents: a flexible methodology relying on UAV surveying and complementary strategies to support multiple scenarios. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(6), 1868. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | **September Assessment Session: Students who fail to obtain an overall pass mark will be re-examined in the Dissertation. However, the resit availability for the Oral Examination is at the discretion of the Board of Examiners. | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Dissertation and Seminar | ||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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