Data Analysis in Criminal Justice and Criminology: History, Concept, and Application breaks down various data analysis techniques to help students build their conceptual understanding of key methods and processes. The information in the text encourages discussion and consideration of how and why data analysis plays an important role in the fields of criminal justice and criminology.
The book is divided into three units. Unit 1 discusses how data analysis is used in criminal justice and criminology, various methods of data collection, the importance of identifying the purpose of analysis and key data elements prior to analyzing information, and graphical representation of data. Unit 2 introduces students to samples, distributions, and the central limit theorem as it relates to data analysis. This section provides students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to understand statistical concepts and calculations. The final unit explains how to move beyond statistical description to statistical inference and how sample statistics can be used to estimate population parameters.
Highly accessible in nature, Data Analysis in Criminal Justice and Criminology is ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in criminal justice, criminology, and sociology especially those with emphasis on data analysis.
Philip D. McCormack earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in criminal justice and criminology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Fitchburg State University and a senior adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He has also developed several courses in criminal justice for other institutions.
Angela Callahan is an instructor and doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she earned her B.S. and M.A. degrees in criminal justice and criminology. Her teaching areas focus on criminal justice research methods, statistics, and criminal justice data analysis.