Objectives and competences
The student will develop a basic understanding of select theories of criminal and deviant behavior.
The student will demonstrate a basic understanding of the scientific method, and as such, understand how to effectively evaluate a criminological theory based on empirical evidence.
The students will become familiar with research methodology in general, but also with survey research in particular as a result of participating in an “in vivo” data collection and data processing as part of the course.
Content (Syllabus outline)
The course will focus in particular on the study of why people deviate and how can we explain these behaviors. Though criminological thinkers and roots can be traced back to the middle of the 18th century, the past half century has witnessed an explosion in thinking and writing about the causes of crime and deviance. Most importantly, during this time, we have also witnessed a revolution in how we go about studying the etiology of crime and deviance, namely by following the scientific method. This method entails, as a key distinguishing feature, that hypotheses and propositions are tested through empirical data. Based on these tests, hypotheses and propositions are either supported and verified or not supported and rejected (and thus refined). Therefore, we will consider the empirical basis for select criminological theories and evaluate them accordingly. Students will also learn about empiricism, about data collection and data processing, and about hypothesis testing over the course of the semester. This overview course is not comprehensive or exhaustive of all criminological theories as there exist many more theories and explanatory frameworks than we would have time to cover. In addition, the course focuses very specifically on criminology as a social scientific discipline, one that is primarily interested in the etiology of crime and deviance, for the sake of knowing, but also for the sake of being able to develop effective prevention and intervention efforts.
Learning and teaching methods
Traditional lecture format as well as seminar format which includes student lead presentations based on different weekly topics
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
An understanding of the current interdisciplinary scholarship on crime and deviance
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Ability to understand, to criticaly evaluate and carry out certain tasks within the field of criminology and deviance studies.
Readings
1. Explaining Criminals and Crime (Paternoster and Bachman): 2001
2. A General Theory of Crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi): 1990
3. Criminological Theories (Akers): 1999
4. Kriminologija : (stran)poti vede o (stran)poteh (Kanduč): 1999
5. Osnovni pristopi v proučevanju deviantnosti (Flere):1994, revija Pravnik
Drugi teksti v znanstveni (domači in tuji) periodiki, na katere tekom semestra opozori nosilec predmeta.
Prerequisits
•Students have to had passed an exam that deals with basic statistical concepts and methods.
