research methods for criminal justice and criminology pdf

• Technical Support
• Find My Rep

You are here

Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice

• Ronet D. Bachman - University of Delaware, USA
• Russell K. Schutt - University of Massachusetts Boston, USA
• Description

The authors are proud sponsors of the  2020 SAGE Keith Roberts Teaching Innovations Award —enabling graduate students and early career faculty to attend the annual ASA pre-conference teaching and learning workshop.

See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

For assistance with your order: Please email us at [email protected] or connect with your SAGE representative.

SAGE 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 www.sagepub.com

Supplements

“ Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice is full of useful content written in a way students will find understandable and engaging. Students will benefit from the way concepts are explained, highlighted, and used in the examples provided. The text goes beyond just presenting content to engaging students in the learning process while they are reading .”

“ This book allows for an interactive learning environment even if the classroom is virtual . The key terms allows for easier sorting of the chapters and the chapter summaries simplifies all the information just taken in.”

“This text is an overview of research methods in the criminal justice fields, also pertaining to criminology. It provides a basic foundation of the topics in research methods but then also goes through an in-depth breakdown of each step a researcher would go through conducting their study .”

“ I would tell my colleague that they would have to try this book for their research methods course.   Why?—because it is easy for students to read and it is easy to construct a semester-long course around.  Moreover, the clarity of the writing will reduce the amount of students who are confused.  And, the companion websites are excellent. The instructor site provides everything needed for a semester-long class and the student site will help reduce the number of students who come into office hours confused.”

“… the text is the perfect balance of comprehensive and ease of understanding . Also, it relies upon realistic examples and offers many different resources to both professors and students.”

One of the few that include more than a passing glance at qualitative methods, plus options to include research on "Big Data", GIS, and more.

• A new chapter that incorporates intelligence-led policing methods includes a section on social network analysis (SNA), which provides case studies that highlight how it was used to examine the 9/11 terrorist network and how it could be used to investigate crimes.
• New sections on research in a diverse society discuss the importance of making sure our samples, measurements, and methods are inclusive and sensitive to the diverse nature of our society.
• A revised Chapter 1 provides a clear, succinct introduction retains the important discussion of how the scientific method helps to ensure research devoid of everyday errors in reasoning while also highlighting different types of research questions and provides a preview of some of the specific methods that are examined in the text.
• New sections on recent developments in research methods reflect increased attention to the Internet as an avenue for research and include electronic surveys, a growing reliance on smartphones, the use of social media for social network analysis and other research, and the use of the Internet in qualitative techniques.
• Updated examples of criminological research as they occur in real-world settings feature contemporary and interesting case studies on a variety of topics, including the effects of police wearing body cameras on both police and citizen injury, predicting burglaries, and more.
• New chapter-opening quotes give readers insight on students who share the impact that their research methods course has had on them.

KEY FEATURES:

• Increased focus on international research introduces students to the expanded use of research conducted in countries around the world, as well as global issues involving race, ethnicity, gender, and culture.
• Careers in Research stories in every chapter highlight the career of a criminal justice professional that has used the methods discussed to show students how research impacts a variety of professions.
• Research in the News sections engage students with recent headlines in the news to illustrate how research informs media stories and the impact research has on researchers and practitioners in criminal justice, as well as society as a whole.
• Consistent ethics coverage throughout the text promotes research success and integrity.
• Real-world criminal justice cases illustrate the methods described and help students better understand contemporary research and its application in the field. 
• Exercises sets include SPSS exercises, Developing a Research Report activities, and Web Research activities.
• Extensive use of graphics throughout adds simplicity and increases understandability of complex concepts.
• Includes more coverage of qualitative research and mixed methods than other comparable introductory texts. 

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: Science, Society, and Research…

Chapter 2: The Process and Problems of Research…

For instructors

Select a purchasing option.

Shipped Options:

BUNDLE: Bachman: Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice 5e (Paperback) + Wagner: Using IBM® SPSS® Statistics for Research Methods and Social Science Statistics 7e (Paperback)

BUNDLE: Bachman, Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice 5e (Paperback) + Allen, The SAGE Guide to Writing in Criminal Justice Research Methods (Paperback)

Related Products

Research Methods for Criminal Justice Students

(3 reviews)

Monica Williams, Weber State University

Copyright Year: 2022

Publisher: Monica Williams

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Kelly Arney, Dean of Behavioral Sciences, Associate Professor, Grace College on 12/15/23

This textbook covers topics needed for criminal justice students to understand as they are going to be doing continual research in their field. Most of the examples cover criminal justice-specific real work examples with an emphasis on law... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This textbook covers topics needed for criminal justice students to understand as they are going to be doing continual research in their field. Most of the examples cover criminal justice-specific real work examples with an emphasis on law enforcement. Interestingly, this could be utilized for a larger behavioral science class as it encompasses the foundations of research that can be applied to most degrees in behavioral sciences. It places a large emphasis on the scientific method, how to design research, and data collection. It differs from other textbooks by not exploring the specifics of experimental designs, nonexperimental designs, quasi-experimental strategies, and factorial designs. The integration of real-world examples throughout each chapter will likely help students to grow in their willingness to engage in research that is necessary to the profession. Emphasis is placed on finding, understanding, and utilizing research.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content was accurate and error-free. No biases material or examples were identified.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content was relevant and recent. The foundational terminology spans the last two decades. This book was originally based on Bhattachergee's 2012 Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practice and Blackstone's 2012 Principles of Sociological Inquiry: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. This material was built on and this textbook is accurate with more recent examples. It has devoted a chapter to ethics in research which I found particularly relevant. It not only covers ethical standards such as the Belmont Report but also dives deep into ethics surrounding the specifics of those requirements. It has a section for research on humans, the Stanford Prison Experiment, Institutional Review Boards, informed consent, vulnerable populations, and the professional code of ethics. This textbook explores these areas in depth. Compared to other textbooks, this has devoted a substantial area to these topics that seem especially relevant recently and particularly important to emphasize for the criminal justice student.

Clarity rating: 5

This textbook seems to make research a little easier. The author has bolded the terminology words for students and created a nice and simple way of organizing the areas of study. The author has multiple categories inside each chapter that give meaning to the section. It is clear what each chapter is about, then each section inside that chapter. Research Methods can be a world of confusing terminology, but this author has simplified this and taken it to a level that students can easily follow. The Key Terms and Discussion Questions at the end of each chapter are also a nice guide for students to clarify what they read in each chapter.

Consistency rating: 4

Consistency is a difficult task in research methods because terms are interchangeable. Some of the terminology was inconsistent, but it described the same things and did not seem confusing. This textbook was the easiest to read when compared to the other textbooks on Research Methods. The sentences were simple and to the point. The book was not overrun with examples or mathematical equations that tend to confuse students. The instructor of the class may need to work to create the standard terminology they want to be used in class. This textbook explores the different terminology, so that can be a learning experience for students in and of itself. People use different terms in real life. It is an easy read as far as research goes. The clarity in the sentences and larger categories is apparent.

Modularity rating: 5

This is one of the largest strengths of this textbook. The text is easy to follow. The author did an excellent job of dividing the chapters into categories that divide the content into smaller readable sections. This makes smaller assignments much easier to assign to instructors. The sections have nice bolded titles and clear spacing between them with bolded words inside the sections. This makes pulling out specific areas and the relevant terminology much easier than in a traditional textbook. It is clear the author put time into organizing this textbook in a student-friendly way.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are organized well. The chapters flow in a way that seems relevant to how it should be taught in the classroom. It is logical in that flow. The chapters are encompassed into larger sections: Think like a researcher, Research design, Qualitative data collection and analysis techniques, A qualitative and quantitative data collection technique, and finally Quantitative data collection and analysis techiniques. Inside each of these larger 5 sections are the chapters that expand on that idea. It is wellorganized.

Interface rating: 5

The digital pdf and the online versions of the textbook did not have any navigational problems. This textbook has some illustrations that worked well. No issues were noted with the interface.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The writing in this textbook was straightforward and clear. I did not find any typos or grammatical errors. This was an easy-to-read textbook.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This textbook was culturally inclusive. I did not find any of the materials in this book to be insensitive or offensive. The examples in this textbook were general examples and did not associate with a cultural component. The only area I think that encompassed this was the vulnerable population section. That was very generalized and mostly suggested students consider who would fall into the vulnerable population category given what they want to research. The chapter on Research Questions (CH 4) did dive into the idea that students are social scientists and use their bias for their research projects. This was more about observing the world around them and then asking questions. It did not dive into cultural sensitivity any further.

I would recommend this book for research in behavioral science college-level classes. This book can be applied to students well beyond the criminal justice major. Many of the examples can be used for psychology, sociology, law, political science, and social work students. Don't let the criminal justice part of the title limit you. This is an easy-to-read and well-organized research textbook with helpful review guides included at the end of each chapter.

Reviewed by Mari Sakiyama, Associate Professor, Western Oregon University on 12/14/23

Each chapter of the textbook included the objectives, summary, key terms, and a few discussion questions. The key terms used in the book were in bold and were easy to identify. The chapters covered in the textbook are appropriate, and they are... read more

Each chapter of the textbook included the objectives, summary, key terms, and a few discussion questions. The key terms used in the book were in bold and were easy to identify. The chapters covered in the textbook are appropriate, and they are grouped in sections. Given that the provided examples throughout the textbook are CJ related, the major specific students can relate themselves to the course materials and it is easier for them to apply their conceptual CJ research ideas to research questions or a proposal. Glossary with definitions at the end of the book was not listed.

Content Accuracy rating: 2

I thought the content was accurate, and the author put the book together in an error-free manner. However, I thought that the textbook was slightly qualitative research heavy as opposed to quantitative research. Also, in the sampling section, I probably would not label non-probability and probability sampling for inductive qualitative and deductive quantitative research, respectively.

Given that research methods is generally required at all 4-year CJ programs and the majority of the concept of the course does not get outdated, the textbook definitely meets both relevancy and longevity.

Despite research methods tend to be full of jargon and technical terminologies, the material was written and introduced in a very reader-friendly and lucid manner. Perhaps, this book might had been the easiest read amongst all the research methods books I have read.

Both terminology and framework were internally consistent throughout the textbook. Although research methods consist with many interchangeable terms that describe the same thing, the author did a great job maintaining its consistency. In addition, the format for each chapter was also consistent and was easy to follow.

Modularity rating: 4

The textbook contains 15 chapters and are grouped in 5 different sections. Each chapter or even within those chapters can be divisible into smaller segment to fit instructors’ existing course structure. However, as mentioned earlier, the textbook was more qualitative research oriented and I thought some of the sections could be combined (i.e., III & IV). In addition, I think sampling could be its own section. Nonetheless, with the divisibility as well as the author’s permission to reuse and modify with attribution, the issues could be easily resolved.

The textbook was well-organized and -structured. I generally do not cover different designs until after midterm but I personally like the flow of this textbook.

Interface rating: 3

The textbook did not have any navigation problems, since each chapter’s organization is consistent. Some of the tables that provided key summaries of strategies/designs or its comparison of strengths/weakness are very helpful to learners. The author did a great job creating charts and diagrams, bur there could be more of them. Also, the number of illustrations/photos were limited but that could be easily adjusted when incorporating the textbook.

The style of writing was appropriate and straightforward. I did not find any typos or grammatical errors. I believe that the textbook would be an easy read compared to other publishers’ research methods textbooks.

I did not find any of the materials in the textbook that were culturally insensitive nor offensive. Examples throughout the textbook were general examples that did not necessarily associate with cultural component.

While there have been OER research methods books for Sociology and Psychology, I think this is the first OER book for CJ research methods, at least that I know of (and kudos to the author)! It would be an excellent material for undergraduate CJ students. I definitely consider using this book for my class.

Reviewed by Youngki Woo, Assistant professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 12/16/22

The textbook covers most areas of research methods in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Like other textbooks, each chapter identifies the learning objectives and showed it in the beginning. At the end of each chapter, there are... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The textbook covers most areas of research methods in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Like other textbooks, each chapter identifies the learning objectives and showed it in the beginning. At the end of each chapter, there are several discussion questions for students. Each chapter is comfortable to follow and addresses all the learning objectives to provide a straightforward response to the discussion questions. In addition, each chapter covers ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index, key terms, and glossary.

Content is accurate and it is easy to read and follow.

Each chapter addresses fundamental concepts and techniques that students should know about research methods in social sciences. The book is published in 2022, indicating that content is up-to-date.

The text is simple and well-written, and content is informative and straight-forward.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. The author did a great job in providing summary at the end of the chapter that tied along with the learning objectives that are provided at the beginning of the chapter.

There are five parts in the textbook and each part is easily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (please see the Table of Contents). Personally, chapter 4 and 5 covers relevant information, but they could have gone more in depth when describing the different techniques along with a variety of research examples.

The topics in the text are presented in a logical and clear fashion. The logical organization carries students through the sequence of the research process. As an instructor, I like the organization that is flexible and helps students better understand the fundamental research skills in criminal justice.

Personally, I would suggest the author to add more photos/images/charts to give examples of what each objective talk about on each chapter. It would help the reader to figure out some methodological techniques with a visual representation. Nonetheless, the text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader.

There are no typos or technical/grammatical errors that I am aware of in the textbook.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The text is not culturally insensitive and offensive as the text discuss mainly about research methods. Some examples in the textbooks are children and family.

Overall, this book contains information that could help students understand the knowledge about methodological terms and skills. This book would be suitable for undergraduate methods courses in most social sciences.

Table of Contents

• 1. Scientific Research
• 2. Paradigms, Theories, and Research
• 3. Ethics in Research
• 4. Research questions
• 5. Research approaches and goals
• 6. Research methodologies
• 7. Measurement
• 8. Sampling
• 9. Focus groups
• 10. Field research
• 11. Qualitative data analysis
• 12. Interviews
• 13. Surveys
• 14. Experiments
• 15. Quantitative data analysis

Ancillary Material

About the book.

This book is based on two open-access textbooks: Bhattacherjee’s (2012) Social science research: Principles, methods, and practices and Blackstone’s (2012) Principles of sociological inquiry: Qualitative and quantitative methods. I first used Bhattacherjee’s book in a graduate-level criminal justice research methods course. I chose the book because it was an open educational resource that covered the major topics of my course. While I found the book adequate for my purposes, the business school perspective did not always fit with my criminal justice focus. I decided to rewrite the textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in my criminal justice research methods courses. As I researched other open- educational resources for teaching social science research methods, I found Blackstone’s book, which covered more of the social science and qualitative methods perspectives that I wanted to incorporate into my book.

As a result, this open-access textbook includes some content from both previous works along with my own additions based on my extensive experience and expertise in conducting qualitative and quantitative research in social science settings and in mentoring students through the research process. My Ph.D. is in Sociology, and I currently teach undergraduates and graduate students in a criminal justice program at Weber State University. Throughout my career, I have conducted and published the results of research projects using a variety of methods, including surveys, case studies, in-depth interviews, participant observation, content analysis, and secondary analysis of quantitative data. I have also mentored undergraduates in conducting community-based research projects using many of these same methods with the addition of focus groups and program evaluations.

About the Contributors

Monica Williams, Ph.D ., Associate Professor, Weber State University

Contribute to this Page

Advertisement

Mixed Methods Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice: a Systematic Review

• Published: 07 January 2021
• Volume 47 , pages 526–546, ( 2022 )

Cite this article

• Nicole Wilkes 1 ,
• Valerie R. Anderson 1 ,
• Cheryl Laura Johnson 2 &
• Lillian Mae Bedell 1  

3386 Accesses

8 Citations

7 Altmetric

Explore all metrics

The field of criminology and criminal justice encompass broad and complex multidisciplinary topics. Most of the research that falls under these areas uses either quantitative or qualitative methodologies, with historically limited use of mixed methods designs. Research utilizing mixed methods has increased within the social sciences in recent years, including a steadily growing body of mixed method research in criminal justice and criminology. The goal of this study was to examine how mixed method designs are being employed within research related to criminal justice and criminology. Our systematic review located 327 mixed method articles published between 2001 and 2017. Findings indicated most criminology and criminal justice research is being conducted within the specialty area of victimology. This study provides an overview of mixed methods research in criminology and criminal justice and also illustrates that most publications are not including methodological concepts specific to mixed methods research (e.g., integration). Along with our systematic review, we offer a series of recommendations to move mixed methods research forward in criminology and criminal justice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

The disaster of misinformation: a review of research in social media

The Social Learning Theory of Crime and Deviance

Thematic Analysis

Aarons, G. A., Fettes, D. L., Sommerfeld, D. H., & Palinkas, L. A. (2012). Mixed methods for implementation research: Application to evidence-based practice implementation and staff turnover in community-based organizations providing child welfare services. Child Maltreatment, 17 (1), 67–79.

Article   Google Scholar  

Anderson, E. (1999). Code of the street: Decency, violence, and the moral life of the inner city . New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Google Scholar  

Anderson, V. R. (2015). Introduction to mixed methods approaches. In L. A. Jason & D. S. Glenwick (Eds.), Handbook of methodological approaches to community-based research: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods (pp. 233–241). New York: Oxford University Press.

Chapter   Google Scholar  

Bazeley, P. (2018). Integrating analyses in mixed methods research . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Book   Google Scholar  

Brent, J. J., & Kraska, P. B. (2010). Moving beyond our methodological default: A case for mixed methods. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 21 (4), 412–430.

Bryman, A. (1988). Quantity and quality in social research . London: Routledge.

Buckler, K. (2008). The quantitative/qualitative divide revisited: A study of published research, doctoral program curricula, and journal editor perceptions. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 19 (3), 383–403.

Burrell, N. A., & Gross, C. (2018). Quantitative research, purpose of. In M. Allen (Ed.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods (pp. 1378–1380). Los Angeles: SAGE.

Campbell, D. T., & Fiske, D. W. (1959). Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait-multimethod matrix. Psychological Bulletin, 56 (2), 81–105. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0046016 .

Campbell, R., Fehler-Cabral, G., Bybee, D., & Shaw, J. (2017). Forgotten evidence: A mixed methods study of why sexual assault kits (SAKs) are not submitted for DNA forensic testing. Law and Human Behavior, 41 (5), 454–467.

Campbell, R., Goodman-Williams, R., Feeney, H., & Fehler-Cabral, G. (2020). Assessing triangulation across methodologies, methods, and stakeholder groups: The joys, woes, and politics of interpreting convergent and divergent data. American Journal of Evaluation, 41 (1), 125–144.

Cohen, J. (1960). A coefficient of agreement for nominal scales. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1 , 37–46.

Copes, H., Beaton, B., Ayeni, D., Dabney, D., & Tewksbury, R. (2020). A content analysis of qualitative research published in top criminology and criminal justice journals from 2010 to 2019. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 45 , 1060–1079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-020-09540-6 .

Copes, H., Brown, A., & Tewksbury, R. (2011). A content analysis of ethnographic research published in top criminology and criminal justice journals from 2000 to 2009. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 22 (3), 341–359.

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Sage.

Creswell, J. W., Klassen, A. C., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Best practices for mixed methods research in the health sciences . Washington, DC: National Institute for Health https://www.obssr.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Best-Practices-for-Mixed-Methods-Research-in-the-Health-Sciences-2018-01-25.pdf .

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Crow, M. S., & Smykla, J. O. (2013). A mixed methods analysis of methodological orientation in national and regional criminology and criminal justice journals. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 24 (4), 536–555.

Culbert, G. J., Bazazi, A. R., Waluyo, A., Murni, A., Muchransyah, A. P., Iriyanti, M., Finnahari, Polonsky, M., Levy, J., & Altice, F. L. (2016). The influence of medication attitudes on utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Indonesian prisons. AIDS and Behavior, 20 (5), 1026–1038.

Curry, L., & Nunez-Smith, M. (2015). Mixed methods in health sciences research: A practical primer . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Denzin, N. (1978). Sociological methods . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Eadie, D., MacAskill, S., McKell, J., & Baybutt, M. (2012). Barriers and facilitators to a criminal justice tobacco control coordinator: An innovative approach to supporting smoking cessation among offenders. Addiction, 107 (2), 26–38.

European Commission JRC. (2007). Quantitative versus qualitative methods. Retrieved from http://forlearn.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guide/4_methodology/meth_quanti-quali.htm .

Fàbregues, S., & Molina-Azorín, J. F. (2017). Addressing quality in mixed methods research: A review and recommendations for a future agenda. Quality and Quantity, 51 , 2847–2863.

Greene, J. C., & Caracelli, V. J. (Eds.). (1997). Advances in mixed-method evaluation: The challenges and benefits of integrating diverse paradigms: New directions for evaluation, 74 . San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Greene, J. C., Caracelli, V. J., & Graham, W. F. (1989). Toward a conceptual framework for mixed-method evaluation designs. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 11 (3), 255–274.

Hart, L. C., Smith, S. Z., Swars, S. L., & Smith, M. E. (2009). An examination of research methods in mathematics education (1995–2005). Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 3 (1), 26–41.

Heap, V., & Waters, J. (2019). Mixed methods in criminology . Routledge.

Hesse-Biber, S., & Johnson, R. B. (2013). Coming at things differently: Future directions of possible engagement with mixed methods research [Editorial]. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 7 (2), 103–109.

Hovey, A., Rye, B. J., & Stalker, C. A. (2013). Factors influencing perceptions of abuse victims: Do therapists’ beliefs about sexual offending affect counseling practices with women? Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 22 , 572–592.

Hovey, A., Stalker, C. A., & Rye, B. J. (2014). Perpetrators of sexual abuse and considerations for treatment. Asking women survivors about thoughts or actions involving sex with children: An issue requiring therapist sensitivity. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 23 , 442–461.

Howe, K. R. (2016). Against the quantitative-qualitative incompatibility thesis or dogmas die hard. Educational Researcher, 17 (8), 10–16.

Howell Smith, M. C., & Shanahan Bazis, P. (2020). Conducting mixed methods research systematic methodological reviews: A review of practice and recommendations. Journal of Mixed Methods Research . https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689820967626 .

Islam, F., & Oremus, M. (2014). Mixed methods immigrant mental health research in Canada: A systematic review. Journal of Immigrant Minority Health, 16 , 1284–1289.

Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33 (7), 14–26.

Johnson, R. B., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Turner, L. A. (2007). Toward a definition of mixed methods research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1 (2), 112–133.

Kleck, G., Tark, J., & Bellows, J. J. (2006). What methods are most frequently used in research in criminology and criminal justice? Journal of Criminal Justice, 34 , 147–152.

Maruna, S. (2009). Mixed method research in criminology: Why not go both ways? In A. R. Piquero & D. Weisburd (Eds.), Handbook of Quantitative Criminology (pp. 123–140). New York: Springer.

Miller, H. V., Miller, J. M., & Barnes, J. C. (2016). Reentry programming for opioid and opiate involved female offenders: Findings from a mixed methods evaluation. Journal of Criminal Justice, 46 , 129–136.

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & The PRISMA Group. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6 (7), 1–6.

Molina-Azorin, J. F., & Fetters, M. D. (2016). Mixed methods research prevalence studies: Field-specific studies on the state of the art of mixed methods research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 10 (2), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/155868981663670 .

Plano Clark, V. L., & Ivankova, N. V. (2016). Mixed methods research: A guide to the field . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Shaw, C. R. (1966). The jack-roller: A delinquent boy’s own story . University of Chicago Press.

Sullivan, C. J., & Maxfield, M. G. (2003). Examining paradigmatic development in criminology and criminal justice: A content analysis of research methods syllabi in doctoral programs. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 14 (2), 269–285.

Tashakkori, A., & Creswell, J. W. (2007). The new era of mixed methods [editorial]. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1 (3), 207–211.

Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (1998). Mixed methodology: Combining qualitative and quantitative approaches . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Testa, M., Livingston, J. A., & Vanzile-Tamsen, C. (2011). Advancing the study of violence against women using mixed methods: Integrating qualitative methods into a quantitative research program. Violence Against Women, 17 (2), 236–250.

Tewksbury, R., DeMichele, M. T., & Miller, J. M. (2005). Methodological orientations of articles appearing in criminal justice’s top journals: Who publishes what and where. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 16 (2), 265–279.

Tewksbury, R., Dabney, D. A., & Copes, H. (2010). The prominence of qualitative research in criminology and criminal justice scholarship. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 21 , 391–411.

Wright, R. T., & Decker, S. H. (1997). Armed robbers in action: Stickups and street culture . Boston: Northeastern University Press.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate Christina Poole’s assistance with coding.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Teachers-Dyer Complex, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, 2610 McMicken Circle, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

Nicole Wilkes, Valerie R. Anderson & Lillian Mae Bedell

Department of Sociology, Hartwick College, P.O. Box 4022, Oneonta, NY, 13820, USA

Cheryl Laura Johnson

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicole Wilkes .

Additional information

Publisher’s note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

(DOCX 38 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Wilkes, N., Anderson, V.R., Johnson, C.L. et al. Mixed Methods Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice: a Systematic Review. Am J Crim Just 47 , 526–546 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-020-09593-7

Download citation

Received : 17 August 2020

Accepted : 13 November 2020

Published : 07 January 2021

Issue Date : June 2022

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-020-09593-7

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Mixed methods
• Methodology
• Criminal justice
• Criminology
• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

Your browser is outdated . This site will not function in it. Please upgrade to improve your experience and security.

Applied Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology

December, 2024

10 figs. Notes. Bib. Index.

Paperback, E-Book

About Fritsch et al.'s Applied Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology

The primary objective of this book is to help readers become educated consumers of research. It provides a practical, applied, and user-friendly approach to research methods by consistently applying the concepts learned to real-life examples of research.

Each chapter builds upon prior chapters so readers can incrementally learn the dynamics of the research process. Readers will understand how research is one of several sources of knowledge when they are faced with the question “How do we know what we know?”

Students will learn core research topics, including sampling methods, survey research, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, field research, and unobtrusive methods. A practical and applied approach to statistics allows readers to engage with the material while they critique, evaluate, and comment on research findings.

About the Editor

ERIC J. FRITSCH is a professor of criminal justice at the University of North Texas and coauthor of Juvenile Justice .

More from Eric J. Fritsch

CHAD R. TRULSON is a professor of criminal justice at the University of North Texas and coauthor of First Available Cell: Desegregation of the Texas Prison System .

More from Chad R. Trulson

ASHLEY BLACKBURN is an associate dean and professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston–Downtown and coauthor of Teaching Introduction to Corrections .

More from Ashley Blackburn

Google Books Preview

Print editions.

Download and own the device-transferable e-book DRM free! . Distributed by the University of Chicago Press.

Pricing and availability may vary by vendor/platform. Links open in a new window/tab.

• Tools and Resources
• Customer Services
• Corrections
• Crime, Media, and Popular Culture
• Criminal Behavior
• Criminological Theory
• Critical Criminology
• Geography of Crime
• International Crime
• Juvenile Justice
• Prevention/Public Policy
• Race, Ethnicity, and Crime
• Research Methods
• Victimology/Criminal Victimization
• White Collar Crime
• Women, Crime, and Justice

Welcome to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology

• Learn more about our Editorial Board .
• Browse the growing collection of articles , overviews and key subject works.
• Discover  forthcoming articles in the ORE of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Letter from the editor

Law Enforcement and Public Health

"The law enforcement and public health (LEPH) movement is an emerging area of practice and scholarship that aims to consolidate responses and research addressing a range of complex issues relating..." – By Isabelle Bartkowiak-Théron

The Harms and Crimes Against Plant Species

"n the 21st century, the socio-environmental crisis is not limited to the quantitative analysis of the biophysical conditions on a global or sub-global scale. Individual species are directly affected by the “dynamics of the Anthropocene”: climate change..." – By Esteban Morelle-Hungría and Pablo Serra

April 2024 Update

What's new to the ores.

In April 2024, 102 full new articles and 4 revised articles, spread across 23 subjects, have been published on the  Oxford Research Encyclopedias  platform.

Find out more about the newest discipline to be added: the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Food Studies .

One More Encyclopedia Available via Subscription and Perpetual Access

On January 30, after a successful free period during development, the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Physics has been made available via subscription and perpetual access to libraries and institutions worldwide.

Browse all ORE physics articles

Why the Oxford Research Encyclopedia?

With today’s overabundance of information, and misinformation, students and researchers alike can be overwhelmed in identifying what’s trustworthy, what’s up-to-date, and what’s accurate..

Explore by Discipline

Working with international communities of scholars across all fields of study, we are developing new comprehensive collections of in-depth, peer-reviewed summaries on an ever-growing range of topics.

For Librarians

Oxford University Press offers a variety of tools to help you promote your access to the Oxford Research Encyclopedias and get the most out of these resources.

Recently Published

Browse recently published articles by month, including summaries and previews of forthcoming full-text articles.

Latest blog articles

• Seven women who changed social work forever
• Black lives matter in prisons too
• How ancient Christians responded to pandemics
• Stress management in the work place [infographic]
• How academics can leave the university but stay in academia

Printed from Oxford Research Encyclopedias, Criminology and Criminal Justice. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a single article for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 22 May 2024

• Cookie Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Legal Notice
• Accessibility
• [66.249.64.20|195.190.12.77]
• 195.190.12.77

We will keep fighting for all libraries - stand with us!

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

Research methods for criminal justice and criminology

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

60 Previews

Better World Books

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

No suitable files to display here.

EPUB and PDF access not available for this item.

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by ttscribe11.hongkong on December 14, 2018