Research Methods and Research Ethics Coverage in Criminal Justice and Criminology Textbooks*

Abstract

Introductory textbooks socialize students by exposing them to core subfields within the discipline. The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature and extent of research methods and ethics coverage in introductory criminal justice and criminology textbooks. Analysis of 15 introductory criminal justice and 10 criminology textbooks suggests that while criminology textbooks do a better job of introducing students to research methods and ethics, the discussions are rather sparse and cursory. Of primary importance in this discussion is how neglecting research methods and research ethics in introductory textbooks may impact the disciplines of criminal justice and criminology. *The author wishes to thank Thomas L. Van Valey for his insightful comments on an earlier draft of this paper, as well as the anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions.