ACR302 - Criminology Research

Unit details

Year

2025 unit information

Enrolment modes:

Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)*

Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Previously coded as:ASL214, ASL310, ASL314
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Imogen Richards
Prerequisite:

Students must complete units ACR101 and ACR102, plus any 4 credit points at level 2

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with:

ASL214, ASL310, ASL314

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

6 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per trimester in weeks TBA.

6 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per trimester in weeks TBA.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:

6 x 1-hour online lecture per trimester in weeks TBA (recordings provided)

6 x 2-hour online seminar per trimester in weeks TBA

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Note:

*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus)

Content

This unit examines issues concerning designing criminological research, including research ethics, methodology and data collection, theoretical approaches to research, reviewing existing literature, presenting research findings and the politics of criminological research. The unit explores research methods from a critical perspective, using a combination of evidence from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. On successful completion of this unit, students will have acquired the skills to conceptualise and operationalise a research topic, and design a research proposal to investigate a range of criminological issues. The unit is also the ‘capstone’ for students completing a Criminology major sequence or Bachelor degree.

Learning Outcomes

ULO These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can:

Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs)

ULO1

Identify, source and critically discuss criminological research, approaches and methods, in written form

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

GLO7: Teamwork

ULO2

Apply key research concepts and approaches on a topic of criminological significance to develop an original research problem relevant to a specific or ongoing criminological problem

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

GLO7: Teamwork

ULO3

Present and defend your conceptualisation and operationalisation of research approaches, practice and concepts in written form

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO7: Teamwork

ULO4

Critically reflect in teams on the challenges presented by various aspects of developing and conducting research

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

GLO7: Teamwork

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1:- Research and Writing Exercise 1200 words
or equivalent
30% Week 6
Assessment 2: Seminar/Online Exercises  800 words 
or equivalent
20% Week 8
Assessment 3: Research Proposal  2000 words
or equivalent
50% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning resource

There is no prescribed text. Unit materials are provided via the unit site. This includes unit topic readings and references to further information.

Unit Fee Information

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.