Assignment 2: Criminology

The discipline of criminology requires a detailed study of crime and criminals. Criminologists seek to answer the “why” question. Why would someone do something so horrible? Criminological theories try to answer this question. As you attempt to answer the “why” question, you will consider theory development.

Are the reasons someone commits a burglary the same as the reasons someone commits murder? In this assignment, you will explore various categories of crime. Ask yourself what it takes to study that particular behavior, describe those variables, and explain how you will measure the variables.

Submission Details:

By Saturday, May 20, 2017, in a minimum of 250 words, post to the Discussion Area your response to the following points:

• Consider how theories are developed. Select a category of crime (for example, burglary or murder) and then describe how you will study this behavior.
• Describe the variables and research design you will use to examine these categories of crime.

By Wednesday, May 24, 2017, read and respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts and provide suggestions for their research designs. As you read your classmates’ posts, be sure to analyze their designs and ask questions regarding design specifics. You can also provide suggestions for alternative methodologies or variable choices. When you engage in discussion with your classmates, be sure to contribute to the learning environment.

Discussion Grading Criteria and Rubric

All discussion assignments in this course will be graded using a rubric. This assignment is worth 40 points. Download the discussion rubric and carefully read it to understand the expectations.