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Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice
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Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Sixth Edition
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December 2025 | 440 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice introduces students to research methods by integrating practical, in-depth research examples into each chapter, highlighting researchers' decision-making processes, and demonstrating the importance of research. This briefer version of Ronet D. Bachman and Russell K. Schutt's best-selling The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice simplifies complex research concepts with examples found in everyday experiences from the criminology and criminal justice professions. Students learn not only how to conduct research, but also the critical skills needed to evaluate research done by others. The Sixth Edition includes coverage of newly popular research methods, enhanced tools for learning in the text and online, and contemporary research examples.

This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support

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Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Chapter 1: Science, Society, and Research Related to Criminal Justice and Criminology
Reasoning About the Social World

 
Types of Research Questions

 
Alternative Research Orientations

 
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

 
Highlighting a Few Specific Types of Research Methods

 
Doing Research in a Diverse Society

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 2: The Process and Problems of Research
The Research Process

 
The Role of Theory

 
Social Research Strategies

 
Social Research Standards

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 3: Ethical Guidelines for Research
Historical Background of Ethics in Research

 
Ethical Principles

 
Research Involving Special Populations: Children and Those Under Correctional Supervision

 
Research on the Web: Contemporary Ethical Issues

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 4: Conceptualization and Measurement
Concepts and Conceptualization

 
Overview of Basic Measurement Tools

 
Did We Measure What We Wanted to Measure—Are They Valid?

 
Are Our Measures Reliable?

 
A Comment on Measurement in a Diverse Society

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 5: Sampling
Sample Planning

 
Probability Sampling Methods

 
Nonprobability Sampling Methods

 
Purposive or Judgment Sampling

 
Units of Analysis and Errors in Causal Reasoning

 
The Ecological Fallacy and Reductionism

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 6: Causation and Experimentation
Causal Explanations

 
Criteria for Nomothetic Causal Explanations

 
A True Experimental Design

 
What If a True Experiment Isn’t Possible? Quasi-Experimental Designs

 
What Are the Threats to Internal Validity and Generalizability in Experiments?

 
Generalizability

 
The Element of Time in Research

 
How Do Experimenters Protect Their Subjects?

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 7: Survey Research
What Is a Survey?

 
Questionnaire Development and Assessment

 
Writing Survey Questions: More Difficult Than You Think!

 
Additional Guidelines for Closed-Ended Questions

 
Other Issues in Questionnaire Development

 
Survey Designs

 
Ethical Issues in Survey Research

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 8: Qualitative Methods and Data Analysis
Fundamentals of Qualitative Methods

 
Participant Observation

 
Steps in Participant Observation Research

 
Systematic Observation

 
Intensive Interviewing

 
Focus Groups

 
Analyzing Qualitative Data

 
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 9: Analyzing Content and Police Data: Social-Network Analysis, Crime Mapping, Big Data, and Content Analysis
Analyzing Secondary Data

 
Social-Network Analysis

 
Crime Mapping

 
Big Data

 
Content Analysis

 
Ethical Issues When Analyzing Available Data and Content

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 10: Evaluation and Policy Analysis
A Brief History of Evaluation Research

 
Evaluation Basics

 
Questions for Evaluation Research

 
Design Decisions

 
Strengths of Randomized Experimental Designs in Impact Evaluations

 
Increasing Demand for Evidence-Based Policy

 
Ethics in Evaluation

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 11: Mixed-Methods and Assessing Findings Across Studies
What Are Mixed Methods?

 
Types of Mixed-Methods Designs

 
Comparing Results Across Studies

 
Ethics and Mixed Methods

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Chapter 12: Summarizing and Reporting Research
Research Report Goals

 
Types of Research Reports

 
Displaying Data

 
Ethics, Politics, and Reporting Research

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Highlights

 
Exercises

 
 
Appendix A: Questions to Ask About A Research Article
 
Appendix B: How to Read a Research Article
 
Appendix C: How to Use a Statistical Package: SPSS
 
Appendix D: How to Use a Qualitative Analysis Package
 
Appendix E: How to Use a Data Spreadsheet: Excel
 
Appendix F: Quantitative Data Analysis
 
Appendix G: Data Sets
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

I would tell my colleagues 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 number of students who are confused.

Kevin Beaver
Florida State University
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities, including video, and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage's reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • A rewritten Chapter 2 describes the process of both inductive and deductive research using recent research that investigates factors related to police behavior.
  • A revised Chapter 3 highlights the importance of validly conceptualizing and operationalizing indicators of constructs in the research process, using hate crime and race/ethnicity as examples.
  • New sections in Chapter 12 include coverage on reading and writing journal articles, as well as the ethical considerations that artificial intelligence (AI) brings to the research process.
  • Recent changes in practices have been incorporated throughout, including an updated discussion of the revised Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects.
  • Recent developments in research methods are incorporated throughout, including coverage of institutional review boards, digital and hybrid ethnographies, online interviews, photo voice, electronic surveys, and the use of social media for social network analysis.
  • Updated examples of criminological research illustrate the decision-making processes used by researchers matching their research questions to appropriate research methods.
  • The Student Study Site includes helpful appendices and datasets for use with the SPSS® or Excel exercises included in the book.
KEY FEATURES:
  • Increased focus on international research introduces students to the expanded use of research conducted in countries around the world, as well continuing to focus on issues involving diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, and culture within the United States and in other countries.
  • 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 from reputable news sources that incorporates research related to the methods and/or topics discussed in that chapter.
  • 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.
  • End-of-chapter exercises plus SPSS and Excel exercises are included for practice.
  • 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

Preface, Chapters 1-2

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