Research Question and Introduction Development
In this assignment, you will use Chapter 3 of Rossi (2004) as a guide in the development of a proper research question that can be used as the foundation upon which you will build your Final Paper.
To further assist you in the development of a practical, measurable, and valid research question, read the introduction and methodology sections of any of the journal articles listed within the Required Resources or Recommended Resources sections throughought the course.
Examining the methodologies and opening sections of a journal article will provide examples of how other scholars have generated their hypotheses and research questions. The research question will appear in the introduction of the Final Paper as well as within its methodology section.
Next, you will use your research question to assist in the formation of a proper introduction for your Final Paper. Provide your readers with a summary of the topic under consideration, its place in the field of criminal justice, why it is important to undertake an evaluation of the topic, policy relevance, social significance, and anything else you discover that might be considered noteworthy.
You can use this week’s recommended article or any scholarly articles you find to guide you as to the proper organization of the introduction. Your introduction and research question should be drafted in such a manner as to be suitable for presentation before an audience of criminal justice professionals.
In your paper,
Formulate the research question you will address in your Final Paper.
Write the introduction to your Final Paper.
The “Research Question and Introduction Development” assignment
Required Resource
Text
Rossi, P. H., Lipsey, M. W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A systemic approach (7th ed.). Retrieved from https://content.uagc.edu
Chapter 3: Identifying Issues and Formulating Questions
Chapter 4: Assessing the Need for a Program
Recommended Resource
Article
Farrington, D. P. (2006). Methodological quality and the evaluation of anti-crime programs. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 2(3), 329-337. doi: 10.1007/s11292-006-9012-y
Evaluation Proposal
The focus of the Final Paper will be on the creation of an evaluation proposal suitable for presentation in a criminal justice setting or agency. The proposal will center on needs assessment, impact monitoring, and the application of quantitative and/or qualitative techniques in the assessment of the selected program or policy.
Rossi, Lipsey, and Freeman (2004) discuss the social context of evaluation. Your evaluation proposal should assess the effectiveness of a program or policy, addressing a specific problem proposed or developed as a solution to a contemporary issue in your chosen area of specialization within the Masters in Criminal Justice program:
Law Enforcement and Corrections Administration, Cybercrime and Technology, Forensic Science, or Homeland Security. Utilize research skills to locate a minimum of 15 appropriate scholarly sources to support your statements within the required sections below.
Small sections of the evaluation proposal will be completed throughout the progression of the course. Students can use those sections verbatim within the text of the Final Paper if they so choose. The evaluation proposal will be assessed based on the inclusion of the following elements:
Introduction
Present your research question and introduction from the assignment you completed in Week Two.
Literature Review
From the assignment you completed in Week Four, compose a literature review comprised of previous scholarly material and research results relevant to your selected topic.
Program or Policy Description
Describe the program or policy that is to be evaluated, including its purpose, stakeholders, history, and outcomes, which will be part of your introduction and description you completed in Week Two.
Explain the impact of relevant issues, including potential political, social, economic, and/or cultural constraints associated with this program or policy.
Proposal Narrative
Present your measures and methodology from the assignment you completed in Week Three.
Critique the design of the program or policy by describing the methodology, including the data to be collected, the means of collection, and how the data will be used.
Identify a proposed budget and projected schedule for the evaluation.
Summary
Summarize the expected outcomes, the questions to be answered, and the expected results that would indicate success of the program or policy.
The “Evaluation Proposal,” Final Paper