Understanding Criminological Research: A Guide to Data Analysis

Criminological research lies at the heart of criminological theory, influences social policy development, as well as informs criminal justice practice. The ability to collect, analyze and present empirical data is a core skill every student of criminology must learn. Written as an engaging step-by-step guide and illustrated by detailed case studies, this book guides the reader in how to analyze criminological data.

Key Features:

• Guidance on how to identify a research topic and question, design a research study, account for the role of the researcher within the research process, as well as write up and present research findings

• A thorough account of the development of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies within the emergence of criminology as an academic discipline; including experimental research design, survey research, qualitative approaches and mixed methods
• Detailed coverage of different forms of qualitative and quantitative data analysis used by criminologists and other social scientists; including grounded theory, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, as well as descriptive and inferential statistics
• Relevant and up-to-date case studies, drawn from internationally published criminological research sources, to illustrate how to conduct different types of data analysis
• Clear and accessible chapter content supported by helpful introductions, concise summaries, self-study questions and suggestions for further reading

 

Dr John Martyn Chamberlain is a Medical Criminologist at Southampton University. His academic background covers criminology, law, bioethics and medical sociology. His primary research interests include the study of medical malpractice, negligence and criminality, as well as the role played by specialist forms of medical and health-care expertise in the identification and governance of ′troublesome′ social groups, including the unwell, the deviant, and the criminally insane. Drawing on this background, he has written widely on medical-legal developments in the regulation and discipline of doctors, as well as contemporary developments in criminological theory and research, publishing two well-received introductory textbooks Understanding Criminological Research (Sage 2012) and Criminological Theory in Context (Sage 2015).