Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Reflective Log Individual reflective log of meetings 2000 Words | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Group Dissemination Activity Communication of findings in accessible manner to lay-person audience 2000 Words | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Application to Consultancy Group Application to secure place in consultancy group (individual) 300 Words | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | Group Oral Presentation Group oral presentation at student conference 15 Words | 15% |
| Semester Assessment | Literature Review Group literature review 3000 Words | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Group report Written report that briefly outlines the issues and proposes realistic solutions (group grade) 1000 Words | 10% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Report Written report that briefly outlines the issues and proposes realistic solutions 1000 Words | 10% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Poster Presentation Individual poster presentation with 1500 written summary to summarise presentation 2500 Words | 15% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Application to Consultancy Group Application to secure place in consultancy group (individual) 300 Words | 10% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Literature Review 1000 Words | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Reflective Log Individual reflective log of meetings 2000 Words | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Dissemination Activity Communication of findings in accessible manner to lay-person audience 1000 Words | 25% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Complete an application to a consultancy group, producing a professional summary identifying your key strengths and weaknesses for the role
Critically analyse a real-world criminological problem using relevant theory, research, policy and practice-based contexts
Develop consultancy skills including problem-scoping, research enquiry and analytical reasoning to inform problem-solving
Work effectively in a team to research, plan, design and conduct a small-scale consultancy project(s)
Innovatively produce and communicate evidence-based recommendations for practice and policy
Cultivate reflective and ethical awareness in applied criminological work
Synthesise academic and other evidence based literature relevant to the research project and present the findings to an audience
Work successfully with a named manager and demonstrate effective project management, self-direction and problem-solving skills throughout the project
Brief description
An alternative to a dissertation module, this module gives students the opportunity to undertake a major project operating as consultants on a real-world criminological problem. Working in small groups alongside a member of staff (or research cluster), students will look to overcome a particular issue(s) pertaining to a specific area of criminology (e.g. youth justice, miscarriages of justice, policing, domestic abuse, veterans, mass atrocities, green criminology, heritage crime etc.). This module requires students to evidence collaborative working practices, research skills, problem solving and presentation of findings through non-standard means (e.g. visual, auditory, artistic etc.). The module will enable students who are unsure of an independent research topic, but are keen to develop key transferable experiences associated with such, to immerse themselves into a specific criminological research topic.
Content
Students will be guided through a problem solving initiative by a supervisor(s) who has nominated a particular area of investigation prior to the start of each academic year. Working collaboratively within each cluster, students will have to gather and analyse evidence, generate evidence-based solutions, and produce a professional consultancy report and presentation on a specific criminological problem as identified. The module blends criminological theory, applied research and real-world problem-solving. It aims to develop practical analytical skills, partnership working and professional communication, preparing students for careers in criminal justice, community safety, policy and applied social research.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Adaptability and resilience | Students will need to adapt their approach according to their research on the real-world problems and create dissemination materials which will appeal to a wide audience. |
| Co-ordinating with others | This project requires all members of the consultancy team to work closely together, meet up regularly and share out tasks between themselves. |
| Creative Problem Solving | Students will be expected to apply their criminological knowledge to a real-world problem in order to generate potential solutions. |
| Critical and analytical thinking | Students will need to write a critical literature review and anticipate real-world difficulties relating to the problems/solutions proposed. |
| Digital capability | Students will be expected to create a digital portfolio of the work, including digitally designed dissemination materials. They will also be required to present using presentation software at the annual student conference. |
| Professional communication | Students will be required to produce reports fit for professional dissemination in the field, and a range of dissemination materials to suit a wide range of audiences including Government and policy makers, practitioners, individuals (including children, where relevant) and the wider public. |
| Real world sense | The whole project will need to be demonstrably seated within real-world situations and addressing the real-world issues discovered through the process of the consultancy. |
| Reflection | Students will be required to keep a reflective diary of their collaboration activities. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students will need to demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of relevant criminological theories and how they can apply and affect real-world problems/solutions. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6