Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
LC13120
Module Title
Essential Skills for Criminologists
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Assignment One  This assignment will require students to conduct a thematic analysis. 1500 Words  50%
Semester Assessment Assignment Two  This assignment will require students to design a qualitative research project 1500 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Assignment One  This assignment will require students to conduct a thematic analysis, utilising an alternative piece of qualitative data. 1500 Words  50%
Supplementary Assessment Assignment Two  This assignment will require students to design a qualitative research project, utilising an alternative Criminological scenario. 1500 Words  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Utilise transferable academic skills, such as understanding how to write and reference in an academically robust way.

2. Understand the basics of research development and design.

3. Understand how to conduct a thematic analysis

4. Have a developing understanding of the advantages and limitations of qualitative research designs.

5. Have a developing understanding of how to critically assess empirical criminological research studies.

Brief description

There are opportunities for students to actively engage in the process of research design, in developing a research plan and methodology

Content

Topics covered in this module include:
Transferable academic skills, including academic writing and referencing
Qualitative research design and methodology
Elements of qualitative research
Understanding and applying a basic form of qualitative analysis

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Students will be taught how to write to a high academic standard, and how to apply Harvard referencing to their work, which will enable them to develop skills needed to produce written publications.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will need to be able to cope with quite different assignment styles to that with which they might be familiar, so they will need to engage with this at an early stage, be willing to ask for further guidance where they need it, and produce work of a high quality both in the middle of the semester and at the end.
Information Technology Students will be required to access materials on Blackboard, but to also utilise a range of online resources pertaining to methodology to complete both of their assignments on this module.
Problem solving The whole ethos of the module revolves around problem solving. It is what social science research is centrally about and therefore the module will be heavily concerned with encouraging and nurturing this skill.
Research skills Students are required to undertake a thematic analysis. This is entry level qualitative analysis, which is particularly useful for undergraduate students, and stands out as a key skill amongst qualitative researchers.
Subject Specific Skills Students will develop skills which will help them in designing and conducting a research project, should they decide to undertake an empirically-based dissertation in their third year.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4