CJA 386 Wk 1 Discussion – Exploring Criminal Justice Data Sources

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member.

Due Thursday

Leaders in the field of criminal justice must be good consumers of data. While they may not be creating their own research studies, they need to be able to find accurate and relevant data to help support decision-making and problem-solving on the job. In order to be a good data consumer, it’s important to know where to find existing data, analysis, and reports.

Explore the following criminal justice data sources:

• Bureau of Justice Statistics Data Collection
• FBI Crime Data Explorer
• Supreme Court of the United States
• United States Sentencing Commission
• Federal Bureau of Prisons Research & Reports

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Find and share a published study, infographic, or other document that contains statistical data that you find interesting.
• Why does this information interest you?
• How do you see this information being relevant in your current or future career?
• What are any limitations or problems with this data, document, or study?

Due Monday

Post 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member. Be constructive and professional.

CJA 386 Wk 2 Discussion – Dispersion of Data

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member.

Due Thursday

This week, we learn about a type of data analysis called dispersion. Measures of central tendency summarize the data, while dispersion measures the variability of data. Having only one type of summary could lead to conclusions like 6-foot-tall people all have the same body structure. When you use dispersion to add in other data points, it provides more perspective. In the previous body structure example, considering height combined with weight gives you a better idea of what a person might look like. In this discussion, you’ll look at how to describe the way the data is spread out in relation to other data points.

Select one of the following measures of dispersion that could assist you in making criminal justice operational decisions (e.g., assignment of patrols, homicide rates, 911 response times).

• Interquartile range
• Standard deviation
• Variance

Explore your local crime reporting resources to find an example of data using your chosen dispersion measure. Most large cities and many counties have crime reporting programs. If you cannot find data for your area, take a look at City of Phoenix Crime Statistics and Maps or national data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Share your selected measure of dispersion, example, and an operational decision in which it could assist you.
• How does your selected measure provide insight into your specific operational decision?
• Why is your selected measure better than another measure for that application?
• What limitations of your selected measure should you consider when determining the implications?

Due Monday

Post two replies to classmates or your faculty member. Be constructive and professional.

CJA 386 Wk 3 Discussion – Statistical Association and Chi-Square

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member.

Due Thursday

As you’ve learned so far, in the field of criminal justice you will have to solve problems and make decisions based on data. When you are faced with these issues and decisions, it helps to make a hypothesis for what you think is the root cause before you test it by looking at available data sets or collecting new data. Often, categorical, or nominal, data can be valuable for problem solving and data-based decision making. Remember chi-square tests determine the relationship between variables.

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Describe 2 examples in the field of criminal justice where the analysis of the association between categorical (nominal) variables could be useful.
• Identify and explain possible null and alternative hypotheses for your examples.
• How could the chi-square test method assist in your research?

Due Monday

Post two replies to classmates or your faculty member. Be constructive and professional. In your reply, consider the possible limitations of the application of data analysis.

CJA 386 Wk 4 Discussion – Application of Research

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member.

Due Thursday

Research results are not just meant to be read. The goal of research is to make a difference for practitioners in the field by influencing positive change backed by data. Think about how research, data, and statistics can help you be a data-driven professional in the criminal justice field.

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Consider your future career in criminal justice and the statistical tests that you have learned about in this course. How could you use statistics to influence policy and operational decisions regarding the allocation of resources?
• What are the advantages of data-driven criminal justice management?

Due Monday

Post 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member. Be constructive and professional.

CJA 386 Wk 5 Discussion – Correlation and Regression

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member.

Due Thursday

Sometimes the answer is not just about the measures of central tendency or dispersion of one set of data. It could be in the intersection or relationship between two or more data types. In the criminal justice field, it’s important understand how to use data analysis with multiple variables to solve problems or make decisions.

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

• Discuss how you can apply correlation and regression procedures to management and research needs in policing, criminal courts, and corrections.
• How might examining multiple quantitative variables lead to beneficial decisions regarding operations and policies?

Due Monday

Post 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member. Be constructive and professional.