Competencies and interest in a problem-focused undergraduate research methods criminal justice course: Two assessments*

Abstract

This study reports on two efforts, in a problem-centered undergraduate criminal justice research methods course, to gauge students' skills in understanding graphical data display and quasi-experimental designs. The problems addressed were drunk driving and handguns. Results show a moderate level of skill by students at course conclusion, but the weak quasi-experimental design precludes confirming the skills were acquired because of the course itself. Students did, however, report increased interest in the two problems because of course coverage. The approach described here may help bridge the gap between skill vs. content vs. process centered views on criminal justice as a liberal arts major.