Winter

CRIM3003/CRIM3004 - Criminology at the Scene

Crime and the social conditions which drive or suppress criminal behaviour vary from place to place. Criminology at the Scene is designed to break down the artificial barriers of understanding crime in different contexts which can incubate in a purely classroom setting. Criminology at the Scene takes advantage of existing linkages the Australian National University has with national and global institutions to provide a unique experience in applied criminology.

Criminology at the Scene offers students the opportunity to undertake fieldwork during the Winter Session, and engage directly with academics and practitioners operating in a distinctly different environments (e.g. urban, rural, the US, China).

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/CRIM3003

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/CRIM3004

SOCR8011- Mixed Methods Social Research

This course is designed to give students an overview of the use of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods for social research. Quantitative methods focus on objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or from existing administrative sources. Qualitative methods, on the other hand, rely on more in depth analysis, and focus on direct observation and/or the analysis of words, images or other text. While many research questions can be answered by using either quantitative or qualitative research methods, most research questions seeking to understand complex social phenomena are best approached by using a mixed methods design.
This course summarises the key aspects of quantitative and qualitative mixed methods, and uses a number of example research projects to discuss how they can be combined to answer key social research questions. Upon completion, students will be able to design, evaluate and analyse data using mixed methods approaches to social research. No prior knowledge in either quantitative or qualitative research methods is assumed.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8011

SOCR8203 - Advanced Techniques in the Creation of Social Science Data

This course will provide students with a detailed understanding of the main techniques for the collection of social science data that is relevant to policy, business and service delivery decisions. Students will be well placed to design and undertaken their own research and to commission others to undertake design, fieldwork and analysis.

Content will cover quantitative surveys (questionnaire design, fieldwork techniques (CATI, online, f2f), cognitive testing) and qualitative methods (in-depth interviews, focus groups, observational techniques), sampling, weighting and assessing representativeness of data, total survey error, creation of data sets for analysis using administrative data, cross-sectional versus longitudinal data.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8203

Spring

SOCR8201- Introduction to Social Science Methods and Types of Data

This course provides an introduction to the main empirical social science methods, types of data, and techniques for collecting social science data. The course will provide students with the skills to apply social science methods to the generation and analysis of data to inform policy, business and service delivery decisions.

Content will cover: overview of main social and behavioural theories (rational choice; nudge and behavioural insights; complexity theory), introduction to research design (observational designs; intervention and experimental designs and action research), techniques for collecting data (quantitative surveys; qualitative interviews; behavioural and experience methods), measurement issues, participatory approaches to research, vulnerable populations, and ethics and privacy considerations.

https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2023/course/SOCR8201