Research and Evaluation Methods

How do justice leaders know whether a policy or program is actually working? In many criminal justice and community organizations, professionals are expected to use research and data to guide decisions, evaluate programs, and improve outcomes. Develop practical research and evaluation skills used in justice administration and related fields. You will learn how to move through the research and evaluation process—from developing questions to collecting, analyzing, and communicating evidence. The course emphasizes applied research settings, particularly the evaluation of justice policies and programs. You will examine common research designs and the strengths and limitations of different approaches. Topics include sampling, survey design, interviews, participant observation, case studies, and process evaluations. By the end of the course, you will be better prepared to interpret research and use evaluation methods to assess and improve real-world programs and policies.