Criminological Psychology

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of original research studies in criminological psychology.
• Critically evaluate complex material from across a range of social science disciplines and understand the difficulties and advantages in synthesis between sociological and psychological criminology.
• Develop transferrable and generic skills to enhance their verbal and written communication skills, manage their time, enhance their research skills, and Critically evaluate and apply psychological and criminological research to the subject of crime and justice.
• Apply the above to the understanding of crime and justice.
• Demonstrate your ability to evaluate the theoretical perspectives presented in the module.
• Demonstrate the application of appropriate sources from criminological and psychological research in seminars, presentations and assessment.
• Further develop research-related skills (research design, data analysis, report writing, teamwork)
• Critically evaluate and apply psychological and criminological research to the subject of crime and justice.
• Design, conduct and report a substantial piece of psychological research in their final year.

This module encourages you to take an in-depth look at the way psychology has been used to explain and control crime. We will explore the way psychological principles can be applied to such issues as violence, murder, serial killing and the role of the courts. You will be given the chance to critically reflect on both the topics covered and your developing understanding of the subject through lectures and seminar activities.

The Practical workshops will cover the main approaches to social research applicable at that time. These might include, but are not limited to:

Multi-factor experiment

• learn about particular research domains
• learn about how hypotheses are derived from theories in those domains
• apply statistical and methodological knowledge to testing concrete hypotheses
• learn how to run an experiment
• understand the rationale for and design of a complex experiment (e.g., factorial design)
• understand and assess measurement reliability
• understand how to code data and handle data files
• understand how to analyze the results of a complex experiment
• develop report-writing skills

Questionnaire related research

• use Excel in an advanced level
• understand how to code data and handle data files
• evaluate psychometric properties of questionnaires
• conduct, interpret, and report correlation related statistics including multiple regression
• develop report-writing skills

Survey

• learn to design iSurvey (our online survey facilities)
• learn to download and use iSurvey data

Qualitative research

• design, conduct, and analyze a piece of qualitative research, using method of content analysis
• conduct risk assessment
• team work

Teaching and learning methods

Practical online workshops

Essay writing/Critical analysis

Quizz

Group activities

Analysis of witness statements

Application of criteria-based content analysis to determine the degree of witness credibility

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Journal of Legal and Criminological Psychology.

Textbooks

Canter, D. and Alison, L. (2000). The Social Psychology of Crime. Aldershot, Hants: Ashgate.

Ainsworth, P. (2001). Offender Profiling and Crime Analysis. Cullompton, Devon: Willan.

Canter, D. and Youngs, D. (2009). Investigative Psychology. London: John Wiley and Sons.

Webber, C. (2019). Psychology and Crime. London: Sage.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External