CRJU-440:
CORRECTIONAL REHABILITATION
Research Paper/Literature Review (100 points)
This assignment researches a particular issue related to correctional rehabilitation. Students are expected to write a paper due at the end of the semester. It is a literature review of correctional rehabilitation focusing on a population type, treatment modality or setting. Possible topics include, but are not limited to: Women offenders, substance abuse, LGBTQ offenders, Juvenile offenders, Mental illness, CBT, wrap-around treatment, therapeutic communities, high security treatment, Jails, re-entry, diversion courts. While the exact topic of this paper is up to the student, it is highly recommended to check with the instructor prior to completing.
This paper includes four primary parts. It must include an overview of:
(1) History of what has been done.
(2) Current practices or developments.
(3) Degree of effectiveness supported by empirical evidence.
(4) Most importantly: how the topic chosen is impacted by the competing priorities of corrections and rehabilitation.
The length will be 7-10 pages and requires at least 8 original sources (peer-review journal articles). This requires using a 12 point Times New Roman font, must be typed, double-spaced and should be written clearly, free of grammatical errors. Your paper must comply with APA formatting. You can use the OWL Purdue APA website to assist you.
Helpful Literature Review Strategies and Information
For this assignment you are to identify at eight (8) peer-reviewed articles reporting on original empirical research related to your chosen topic. You will conduct a thorough review of each article and then write an integrated literature review.
Do not simply use the first articles that pop up in your search. You should do some initial reading of the articles so as to identify those that will be of most use for you in relation to your topic. The more time and effort you put up front the easier the process will be down the road.
First Read — Read each article from start to finish. Do not worry about what you do or don’t understand, simply try to get a sense of what the author(s) is attempting to convey (i.e., the major points). Make note of what you feel are the most important findings or conclusions the author(s) offers regarding your topic.
Piggy-Backing #1 — Using the first article’s text and reference list, identify a third peer-reviewed journal article that reports the findings of empirical research related to your topic and that seems central to the arguments put forth in the first article. Read this article from start to finish, making note of what you feel are the most important findings or conclusions the author(s) offers regarding your topic.
Piggy-Backing #2 — Using the second article’s text and reference list, identify a fourth peer-reviewed journal article that reports the findings of empirical research related to your belief and that seems central to the arguments put forth in the second article. Read this article from start to finish, making note of what you feel are the most important findings or conclusions the author(s) offers regarding your belief.
Second Read — As you reread each article, respond to the following questions:
What is the basic research question or problem? Try to state it in just one sentence.
Is the purpose of the study explanatory, evaluative, exploratory, or descriptive? Did the study have more than one purpose?
What were the major concepts in the research? How were they defined and measured?
Were any hypotheses stated? If so, what were the independent and dependent variables? What was the hypothesized direction of association?
What kind of research design was implemented?
How was the data collected and analyzed?
What was the sampling strategy and sample?
What were the stated limitations of the research?
Writing the Literature Review — Once you have reviewed/analyzed each individual article, you are ready to write your literature review. You are required to write an “integrated” literature review. Look over the description of an integrated literature review included under Appendix A: Conducting Literature Reviews and Finding Information (available at http://www.sagepub.com/bachmanfrccj2e/study/resources.htm). Pay particular attention to the section entitled Reviewing Research beginning on page A-8.
Formatting Requirements
Double spaced, 12pt, Times New Roman or Garamond font
Appropriate use of headings to organize your paper, minimum of seven full pages
Grading
This assignment is worth 100 points. See rubric below.
Rating
Score
5
4-3
3-2
2-0
Articles
Information is gathered from multiple, research-based sources.
Information is gathered from multiple sources.
Information is gathered from a limited number of sources.
Information is gathered from a single source.
Theme
Well organized, demonstrates logical sequencing and structure.
Well organized, but demonstrates illogical sequencing or structure.
Weakly organized with no logical sequencing or structure.
No organization, sequencing, or structure.
Background/
Foundation
Detailed conclusions are reached from the evidence offered.
Conclusions are reached from the evidence offered.
There is some indication of conclusions from the evidence offered.
No conclusions are made from the evidence offered.
Reference Sheet
Information is cited properly and in APA format.
Information is cited properly.
Information is cited, but has errors.
Information is not cited or is cited incorrectly.
Length
Adheres to 7 page criteria.
Does not meet 7 page criteria by ½ page or less.
Does not meet 7 page criteria by ½ to 1 page.
Does not meet 7 page criteria by more than 1 page.
Format
Font, spacing, and APA format are correct.
Font and spacing, font and APA, or spacing and APA are correct.
Font, spacing, or APA format is correct.
Font, spacing, and APA format are incorrect.
Grammar
There is 1 or less grammatical error.
There are 2 grammatical errors.
There are 3 grammatical errors.
There are 4 or more grammatical errors.
TOTAL