CRIM13003 - Criminology Research Capstone

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This research capstone unit enables you to apply the theories, content knowledge and skills you have learned to researching a problem of concern to a regulatory agency, criminal justice agency, government or other organisation involved in the prevention or regulation of criminal activity. You will develop a practical research project that will be conducted during a single term and be responsible for each of the methodological stages including developing a research question, understanding the ethical context, planning, project management, conduct of research, delivery and dissemination. You will keep a portfolio of key documents and reflect on skills and capabilities necessary for professional research practice in the field of criminology.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 3
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 4
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Enrolment in CL55 or CL75 and 72 cp of completed units.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2024

Term 2 - 2024 Profile
Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Literature Review or Systematic Review 30%
2. Report 70%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2023 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 80.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 26.32% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Student evaluations, in class feedback and via email.
Feedback
Students were very satisfied with the learning support received during the unit
Recommendation
The unit modules contain learning resources and challenge tasks. These will be developed into a third iteration which will include additional information and learning resources in order to maintain currency and a contemporary unit, as well as adapt for each cohort interest and skill needs. The UC will continue to be available via Zoom and email for additional tutorials/meetings. Additional video recordings and scaffolded assesment guides will continue to be evaluated and utilised in each unit.
Action Taken
Further UC direction provided with reaching out to less engaged students to touch base. This will continue in further itterations. Resources continue to be reflected and adapted for each cohort and to maintain currency.
Source: Student evaluations, in class feedback and via email.
Feedback
Students found the Unit content engaging and interesting
Recommendation
The contemporary methodological topics will be reviewed and updated where necessary to maintain the engaging content of the Unit.
Action Taken
The methodological topics were reviewed and updated where necessary to maintain the engaging content of the Unit. This will continue in future itterations.
Source: Student evaluations, in class feedback and via email.
Feedback
Students found the student-directed study sessions useful
Recommendation
These sessions are guided but students learn to direct sessions themselves in order to build research management skills and prepare students for employment in line with the aims of a Capstone unit.
Action Taken
This cohort struggled with more open self directed sessions, so UC created an adgenda of questions from students to guide the session. This balance will continue to be adjusted for each cohort to increase employability skills in line with the aims of a capstone unit.
Source: Students feedback in class and via email.
Feedback
Students appreciated the offering of night classes.
Recommendation
Continue to offer evening classes and continue to highlight to students that individual or small group Zoom sessions are available during business hours if they reach out to the UC.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Students feedback in class and via email.
Feedback
Students appreciated the chance to check their research questions and topics prior to the first assessment submission.
Recommendation
Continue to highlight the offer to check research questions and provide guidance, resources and thought provoking questions to help develop the students topic and critical thinking skills.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student feedback in class and via email.
Feedback
Students appreciated the wide range of topics available to build their capstone research topic.
Recommendation
Continue to alter the research topics available to incorporate student interests and current criminological trends.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Analyse a complex criminology problem by developing and implementing appropriate research methodologies
  2. Design a research proposal
  3. Consolidate information pertaining to the research topic through a critical review of leading authorities, a literature analysis and the management of this information in a research data platform
  4. Work responsibly on a criminology research project and account for your own learning practices
  5. Engage in peer review and feedback processes within a discipline research community.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Literature Review or Systematic Review • • •
2 - Report • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication •
2 - Problem Solving • •
3 - Critical Thinking • •
4 - Information Literacy •
5 - Team Work •
6 - Information Technology Competence •
8 - Ethical practice •
9 - Social Innovation •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2 - Report • • • • • •
1 - Literature Review or Systematic Review • • • • •