Synopsis
Hagan (Mercyhurst College) describes both pure and applied research in this updated version of a long-enduring textbook. After introducing the theories and methods of criminal justice research, describing qualitative and quantitative studies, and giving students a preview of the specialized terms and processes used throughout the text, he describes ethical considerations, research design, data-gathering strategies, sampling and survey research, participant observation, unobtrusive measures, secondary analysis, and use of official statistics. Hagan then closely guides students through the data and policy analysis process and includes advice on how to write research reports and proposals. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Booknews
Focusing on the theoretical, methodological, and ethical aspects of conducting research, this textbook discusses research design, data- gathering, surveys, participant observation and case studies, unobtrusive measures and secondary analysis, validity and reliability, scaling and index construction, data analysis and statistics, and policy analysis. Appendices offer guidance on writing reports and crafting proposals, along with presenting additional coverage of statistics, curve areas, and chi-square distribution. A glossary and random number chart are provided. Hagan teaches at Mercyhurst College. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)