School of Criminal Justice and Criminology

Master of Science in Criminal Justice Research Concentration Thesis Option

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2020-2021

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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4

Overview of MSCJ Programs at Texas State University .............................................................. 5

The MSCJ Research Concentration Program ................................................................................ 6

Applying for the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option Program .................................. 11

Admission Criteria .......................................................................................................... 11

Application Process ......................................................................................................... 12

Application Deadlines ..................................................................................................... 12

Funding and Scholarships ........................................................................................................... 13

Scholarships from the Graduate College ......................................................................... 13

Scholarships from the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology .............................. 13

Graduate Assistantships .................................................................................................. 13

Program Goals ............................................................................................................................. 14

School of Criminal Justice and Criminology Graduate Faculty ................................................. 14

Completing the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option Program ................................... 19

Completing the Research Thesis ................................................................................................. 24

Thesis Deadlines ............................................................................................................. 24

Step 1: Identifying the Research Questions and Thesis Chair ........................................ 25

Step 2: Putting Together your Thesis Committee ........................................................... 25

Step 3: The Thesis Research Proposal ............................................................................ 26

Step 4: Carry Out and Write Up the Research ................................................................ 26

Step 5: Defend your Thesis ............................................................................................. 26

Step 6: Submit the Final Draft of your Thesis to the Graduate College ......................... 27

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The Comprehensive Examination ............................................................................................... 27

Graduating ................................................................................................................................... 28

Frequently Asked Questions ....................................................................................................... 29

Applying for the Program ............................................................................................... 29

Student Progress .............................................................................................................. 30

Completing the Thesis ..................................................................................................... 31

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Introduction Welcome to the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Texas State University! We are delighted you have joined – or are considering joining – our master’s program. Located in the Hines Academic Center, the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral-level curricula addressing a wide range of social issues and research opportunities. Our faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for their commitment to outstanding teaching, cutting-edge research, and unparalleled service to the field. Their broad practical experiences and diverse academic backgrounds contribute to a curriculum that provides students the skills needed for criminal justice program planning, implementation, and evaluation. This handbook will provide you with all the information you will need to, first, decide which degree option from our Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program is best for you and, once you have joined and registered, successfully complete your degree. We hope you find the handbook helpful and that it answers all the questions you have. If you have any outstanding questions, please do not hesitate to contact our MSCJ team on CJMasters@txstate.edu. Best of luck with your studies and welcome again!

Dr. Christine Sellers

School Director Graduate Advisor and Coordinator for the MSCJ Program (Executive Concentration)

Dr. Lucia Summers Associate Professor

Graduate Advisor and Coordinator for the MSCJ Program (Non-Thesis Option and

Research Concentration)

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Overview of MSCJ Program at Texas State University The School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Texas State University offers three separate paths towards a MSCJ degree, to meet the varying needs and interests of our students: 1) the (original) MSCJ Non-Thesis Option; 2) the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option; and 3) the MSCJ Executive Concentration Non-Thesis Option (see Table 1).1 The MSCJ Non-Thesis Option and the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option share some of the curriculum, so students from both degree options may find themselves in the same classroom, despite different curriculum and assessment requirements. The MSCJ Executive Concentration program, on the other hand, is cohort-based and taught completely separately. This student handbook focuses on the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option program. Table 1. Overview of Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) degree options.

MSCJ Non-Thesis Option

MSCJ Research Concentration

MSCJ Executive Concentration

36 credit hours 30 credit hours 30 credit hours

5 core courses and 7 electives 5 core courses and 3 electives (plus 6 credit hours for thesis)

5 core courses and 4 electives (plus 3 credit hours for

problem-solving project) No thesis or professional paper Research thesis Problem-solving project Written comprehensive exam Oral comprehensive exam Oral comprehensive exam

16-week courses in Fall/Spring, 10-week courses

in Summer

16-week courses in Fall/Spring, 10-week courses

in Summer

8-week courses in Fall/Spring, 10-week course in Summer

Generalist program for those seeking additional training in

criminal justice (CJ)

Competitive program for those seeking research analyst jobs

or to pursue a PhD

Competitive program for full-time CJ professionals only

1 Also see http://mycatalog.txstate.edu/graduate/applied-arts/criminal-justice/masters/.

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The MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option Program The MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option program (hereafter, MSCJ-Res) is a competitive program specifically designed for those seeking to eventually complete a doctoral program and/or careers in research-related fields. The curriculum for the MSCJ-Res provides for the development of theoretical, methodological, and analytical skills to evaluate and conduct scientific inquiry into the criminological and criminal justice issues. The MSCJ-Res program requires 30 credit hours, which are split into five core courses (15 credit hours), three electives (nine credit hours), and a minimum of six credit hours towards your research thesis (CJ 5399A Thesis A and CJ 5399B Thesis B). The thesis will have to be presented in a public oral defense, during which you will also complete your oral comprehensive examination. This examination will test your ability to apply concepts from research methodology and analysis, criminology and criminal justice to real-world situations. There is no professional paper or non-thesis option within this program; instead, ALL students complete a research thesis. The five core courses you will need to complete as part of the MSCJ-Res are: CJ 5310 Administration of Justice; CJ 5315 Advanced Research Methods in Criminal Justice; CJ 5316 Quantitative Data Analysis; CJ 5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice; and CJ 5335 Advanced Crime Theory.

The three elective courses may be chosen from any of the other courses offered by the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the master’s level. For a full list of master’s-level courses at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, see Table 2.2

2 Also see http://mycatalog.txstate.edu/graduate/applied-arts/criminal-justice/masters/#coursestext. Please note there are some courses listed in the catalog that are not currently being offered in the MSCJ Non-Thesis Option and MSCJ Research Concentration. These include: CJ 5300 Foundation Studies in Criminal Justice; CJ 5311 Administrative Law in Criminal Justice; CJ 5321 Current Legal Issues in Criminal Justice; CJ 5380N Applied Research Practicum; CJ 5323 Special Operation Units; CJ 5380H Police Problem Solving Methodologies; and CJ 5380L Geospatial Intelligence and Geographic Profiling. These courses may be offered in future, subject to faculty availability.

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Table 2. Courses offered on the MSCJ program (Research Concentration Thesis Option). Code Title Description

CJ 5101 Graduate Assistant Supervision

Prepares graduate student teaching and instructional assistants to perform effectively in diverse instructional settings and in their assigned instructional support roles. The course provides for regular and planned opportunities for continuing evaluation of instructional and assistive responsibilities. This course does not earn graduate degree credit. Repeatable with different emphasis. Graduate Assistantship course (excluded from graduate GPA). Course graded as Credit / No Credit. Credit hours: 1.

[Please note this course is only required for and available to those employed as graduate instructional assistants by the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology.]

CJ 5310 Administration of Justice

Introduction to the study of crime; explanations of criminal behavior; typologies of criminal behavior; the criminal justice system; and social reaction to crime and the criminal justice system.

CJ 5315 Advanced Research Methods in Criminal Justice

The study of scientific research methods as used in the criminal justice system to include a review and critique of research on crime causation, law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

CJ 5316 Quantitative Data Analysis

This course provides an introduction to quantitative data analysis. For the purposes of research and exploratory data analysis, topics include data construction and cleaning, variable coding, descriptive and inferential statistics, summary measures, and visual presentations of data. This course makes extensive use of statistical software.

CJ 5319 Crime Analysis This course teaches students step by step how to evaluate and synthesize local crime data and present it to others. It helps students identify local crime trends and cycles, develop usable crime maps, and to think of practical local police responses.

CJ 5320 History and Philosophy of Justice

An exploration of historical approaches to social control of nonconforming behavior. The principal contributions of architects and theorists of systems of social justice are examined with emphasis on major Western European schools of thought. Special emphasis given to the development of the scientific method and its role in the contemporary system of justice.

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Table 2 (cont.). Courses offered on the MSCJ program (Research Concentration Thesis Option). Code Title Description

CJ 5322 Police in Society This course provides an in-depth assessment of policing and the various types of community crime control. Core topics include the history of police, organizational and individual police discretion, police culture, use of force, minorities and the police, community-oriented policing, and police problem-solving.

CJ 5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice

The study of basic and advanced descriptive and inferential statistics, with an emphasis on applications in the criminal justice system will be taught. Focus will be given to various multivariate statistical procedures.

CJ 5330 Management Principles in Criminal Justice

The study of behavior in complex bureaucratic or administrative organizations with an emphasis on organizational behavior, group processes, and the managerial function. Concepts and practices of managing criminal justice agencies within the United States will be stressed.

CJ 5333 Race, Class, and Crime

This course addresses issues related to racial/ethnic minorities, socioeconomic status, crime trends, perceptions of crime and criminal behaviors. The social/historical constructions of race and class are covered as well as their intersectionality within the criminal justice system. Topics include racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in offending, victimization, law enforcement and sentencing.

CJ 5334 Sex Offender and the Criminal Justice System

This course explores sex offenders and the criminal justice system and the issues faced by criminal justice professionals. Recent trends in assessment tools, treatment approaches, and legal responses to sex offenders are emphasized.

CJ 5335 Advanced Crime Theory

This course will develop and apply analytical skills surrounding a wide range of theoretical concepts, assumptions, propositions, and variables aimed at explaining crime-related outcomes. In the process, students will learn how social scientists empirically (i.e., quantitatively and qualitatively) access theory and how theory influences public policy.

CJ 5340 Personnel Practices in Criminal Justice

The study of personnel decision-making within the criminal justice agency. Topics emphasized will include recruitment and selection, promotion, training, performance evaluation, and human resource allocation.

[Please note this course is currently only available on the MSCJ Executive Concentration program.]

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Table 2 (cont.). Courses offered on the MSCJ program (Research Concentration Thesis Option). Code Title Description

CJ 5350 Current Issues in Criminal Justice

An in-depth presentation and discussion of vital contemporary issues in criminal justice, including research, process, procedure, and substance. General issues addressed remain constant and specific emphasis will vary depending on changes in contemporary issues.

CJ 5355 Intelligence Gathering and Operational Issues as Applied to Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operation

This course provides an overview of the importance of intelligence gathering in the global and domestic war of terrorism, and critically examines issues involved with the gathering of intelligence, techniques for the gathering of intelligence, methods of collecting, collating, analyzing and disseminating intelligence, and a review of current terrorist threats.

CJ 5360 Independent Studies in Criminal Justice

Student will work directly with a faculty member and develop in-depth knowledge in a specific topic area of Criminal Justice. Repeatable for credit. Course graded as Credit / No Credit.

[There is a separate section for each faculty member. You can only sign up for this course after you have discussed and agreed this with a member of faculty and decided what the independent studies would involve.]

CJ 5380A Ethics and the Criminal Justice System

This special-topics course will explore ethical issues that are faced by criminal justice professionals, basic ethical systems, and applications to dilemmas of criminal justice professionals.

CJ 5380F Police Problem-Solving Practicum

This course applies contemporary police problem-solving tools and techniques (including SARA, COMPSTAT, crime mapping, intelligence led policing and computer enhanced problem solving) to real world problems with practicum problems derived from situations commonly facing police practitioners such as common law enforcement “problems” such as noise abatement, property offenses and traffic violations.

[Please note this course is currently only available on the MSCJ Executive Concentration program.]

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Table 2 (cont.). Courses offered on the MSCJ program (Research Concentration Thesis Option). Code Title Description CJ 5380Q Qualitative

Research Methods and Data Analysis

This course provides students with a detailed and participatory introduction to the principles and use of common qualitative methods and data analysis used in social science research with a particular focus on the field of criminal justice.

CJ 5380R Criminal Justice Policy

This course covers contemporary public policies designed to prevent and reduce crime and criminal offending. There is also an emphasis on different levels of evaluation that should be used to address specific criminal justice issues.

CJ 5399A Thesis This course represents a student’s initial thesis enrollment. Credit is not awarded until student has completed the thesis in Criminal Justice 5399B. Course graded as Credit / No Credit.

[As with the independent studies course, there is a separate section for each faculty member, and you can only register for it after you have approached a member of faculty and he/she has agreed to chair your thesis.]

CJ 5399B Thesis This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollment. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding. Course graded as Credit / No Credit.

N.B.: All courses are three credit hours and graded using standard letter, unless otherwise specified.

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You may also choose to register for an outside elective for just ONE of your elective courses. Such a course would have to be a master’s level course and directly relevant to criminology and/or criminal justice. Examples of suitable outside electives include PSY 5360G Forensic Psychology, from the Department of Psychology, and LS 5361 Criminal Law and Procedure, from the Department of Legal Studies. Outside electives must be approved by your Graduate Advisor. All courses in this program, both core and elective, are delivered as full-term courses in the Fall and Spring terms. In the Summer, courses are offered as ten-week courses. Most of the courses are usually delivered in person in the San Marcos campus, with a small number being offered as online courses (although many are now online/hybrid due to the current pandemic).

Applying for the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option Program

Admission Criteria

To be admitted into the MSCJ-Res program, you must have: a baccalaureate degree in criminal justice or related field from a regionally accredited

university; and a minimum 3.25 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work; and competitive Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores in the GRE General Test, which

includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections; a statement of purpose where you outline your career goals and research interests, and how

the completion of your MSCJ fits into your plan to achieve these (aim for about 300-500 words); and

two letters of recommendation.

Please note there is no minimum GRE score, but that your GRE score, in the context of your whole application, will be assessed to determine not just which applicants are offered a place into the relevant program, but also who receives additional support in the form of graduate assistantships and/or nominations for merit scholarships (more on this in later sections). Therefore, you should adequately prepare for your GRE and retake the test if you feel your scores – and their associated percentiles, which indicate what percentage of test takers have received a score lower than yours – are good enough. Taking the GRE test can be expensive but, if you are currently enrolled as a Texas State University student, you can apply for a test fee scholarship to cover your exam fee (see https://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/funding/scholarships/test-fee.html); there is also a GRE Fee Reduction program available to all test takers (for eligibility criteria and application form, see https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about/fees/reductions). For assistance with preparing for your GRE test, please visit https://www.txstate.edu/slac/stad-test-prep/gre.html. International applicants whose first language is not English must have adequate TOEFL or IETLS

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scores. The minimum official TOEFL iBT overall score is 78. The minimum official IELTS (academic) overall score is 6.5, with minimum individual scores of 6.

Application Process

All applications for Spring 2020 entry are submitted via ApplyTexas, and those for Fall 2020 entry via the new Texas State University online application system (for more information, please see https://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/admissions/document-info.html). There is a non-refundable application fee of $55 ($90 for applications with international credentials). Detailed instructions and information about the application process can be found in www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/apply.

Application Deadlines

The deadlines for priority and standard applications are shown in Table 3. Please note students will need to apply by the priority deadline (February 1) if they want to be considered for the scholarships offered by the Graduate College and the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, and for any graduate assistant positions that may be available at the School (more on these later). Although standard deadlines have been set, applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis, on a first-come, first-served basis, with no guarantees for admission. The deadlines for international students, however, are firm (and earlier than those for domestic students) because time is needed to apply for the necessary student visas. If you are an international applicant, please visit the International Office webpage for other admission requirements that may apply. Table 3. Application deadlines for the MSCJ Non-Thesis Option program.

Fall entry Priority Standard

Domestic students February 1 June 15

International students February 1 June 1

Spring entry Priority Standard

Domestic students August 15 October 1

International students August 15 October 15

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Funding and Scholarships As indicated earlier, scholarships are available from both the Graduate College and the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. The School also employs several graduate assistants, as do other departments and schools throughout the University. In addition to these, students may be eligible for financial aid if they are enrolled at least half-time in courses counting towards their degree (please see https://www.finaid.txstate.edu/graduate.html).

Scholarships from the Graduate College

Both program applicants and continuing students can apply for the Celebrity Classic Scholarship offered by the Graduate College. This is a self-nominated scholarship where $1,500 may be awarded per term, for the remainder of your program of study. This scholarship is highly competitive and requires students to maintain a 3.5 GPA and continuous enrollment (i.e., register for courses in Fall, Spring, and Summer). Applications may be submitted between October 1 and February 1 every year. (For more information about this scholarship and how to apply, please see https://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/funding/scholarships/celebrity-classic.html). Although you will see information about the Graduate College Scholarship in the website of the Graduate College, this is NOT available for students from the College of Applied Arts, to which the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology belongs. However, the Graduate College offers other types of funding, such as partial funding to attend academic conferences, which may be supplemented by the School (see https://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/funding/travel.html). MSCJ-Res students may also apply for the Thesis Research Support Fellowship, which can cover expenses related to their thesis research. Information about eligibility, application requirements, and deadlines can be found in the relevant section of the Graduate College website (see https://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/funding/scholarships/thesis-research.html).

Scholarships from the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology

There are two scholarships available to master’s students at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, namely the Stephan C. Geigel Scholarship and the William M. and Emily W. Pruitt Criminal Justice Endowed Scholarship. To be eligible, you must be either a current student or a prospective student who has met the Fall priority application deadline of February 1. The applications for these scholarships are also due on February 1 every year and you can apply online (for more information, see https://www.cj.txstate.edu/resources/gradscholarships.html).

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate teaching and research assistantships are available at the School. Typically, only new program applicants meeting the priority deadline are eligible to apply. Graduate assistants (GAs) work for the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology for 20 hours

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per week during the Fall and Spring terms (no work is available during the summer), while completing their program of study full-time. All graduate assistants (GAs) usually start their term as a graduate instructional assistant (GIA), helping one or more faculty members with their classes. MSCJ-Res students will then switch to a graduate research assistant (GRA) position for one or two terms during their second year. Approximately four GA vacancies are available each Fall semester, and interested students must submit their application by February 1. Information about policies, general requirements, pay, and conditions of employment is available from the Graduate College website (see https://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/funding/assistantships.html).

Program Goals The central educational goal of the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option program at Texas State University is to prepare students for PhD programs in criminology and criminal justice, and/or for research-related careers in the criminal justice field. The aim is to master research design, data collection, and data analysis skills, with an emphasis on criminal justice program planning, implementation, and evaluation to ensure a meaningful contribution to this important area of community and human services.

School of Criminal Justice and Criminology Graduate Faculty The School of Criminal Justice and Criminology currently has 25 full-time faculty members, of whom 11 are full professors, three are associate professors, eight are assistant professors, and three are lecturers. Not all faculty will teach on the MSCJ Research Concentration program, but you should familiarize with them and their research interests (see Table 4) as they may be available to conduct an independent study with you, which would count as one of your CJ electives. Independent Studies in Criminal Justice (CJ 5360) is a three-credit hour course where you agree a program of study with a member of faculty; this usually focuses on a topic not covered by the curriculum and involves the faculty member working with the student on a one-to-one basis or perhaps with a small group of students. You can only register for this course after you have approached the faculty member with an informal proposal (about what you’d like to work on) and he/she has agreed to conduct the independent studies with you.

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Table 4. Full-time faculty at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Last name First name Position Highest degree Areas of interest / expertise

Arnio* Ashley Assistant Professor Ph.D. Florida State University

Communities and crime Law and social control Spatial data analysis

Blair* Pete Professor Ph.D. Michigan State University

Active Shooter Events Policing Investigations

Bowman* Scott Associate Professor Ph.D. Arizona State University

Race/ethnicity, class and criminal justice Juvenile justice Qualitative research methods Critical criminology Implicit association testing (IAT) research

Brimbal Laure Assistant Professor Ph.D. City University of New York

Policing Investigative interviewing Decision-making in investigations

Chamlin* Mitch Professor Ph.D. SUNY – Albany Interrupted time series analysis Macro-criminology

Elsass Jaymi Lecturer Ph.D. Texas State University Mass shootings Fear of crime and moral panic Media and crime Juvenile delinquency

Hewitt* Ashley Assistant Professor Ph.D. Simon Fraser University

Sexual violence Environmental criminology Criminal profiling Offender decision-making

(*) Can chair research theses.

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Table 4 (cont.). Full-time faculty at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Last name First name Position Highest degree Areas of interest / expertise

Jamieson* Jay D. Professor Ph.D. Sam Houston State University

Comparative criminal justice and deviant behavior

Jones* Angela Assistant Professor Ph.D. City University of New York

Juror decision making Expert testimony Judicial instructions Wrongful convictions Procedural justice

Jones* Shayne Professor Ph.D. University of Kentucky Personality Legal decision-making Measurement

Logan* Matthew Assistant Professor Ph.D. University of Cincinnati

Institutional corrections White-collar crime Criminological theory Applied statistics

Mullins* Wayman Professor Ph.D. Univ of Arkansas Main Campus

Crisis negotiation Intelligence analysis Terrorism

Roche* Sean P. Assistant Professor Ph.D. SUNY – Albany Perceptual deterrence Public opinion on crime and justice issues Survey research methods Criminological theory

(*) Can chair research theses.

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Table 4 (cont.). Full-time faculty at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Last name First name Position Highest degree Areas of interest / expertise

Rossmo* Kim Professor Ph.D. Simon Fraser University

Criminal investigations Policing Geography of crime Offender profiling

Sellers* Chris Professor Ph.D. University of Florida Criminological theories Intimate partner violence Gender and crime

Stafford* Mark Professor Ph.D. University of Arizona Criminological theory Juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice Quantitative methods

Stone* William Professor Ph.D. Sam Houston State University

Criminal justice education Corrections School safety

Summers* Lucia Associate Professor Ph.D. University College London

Environmental criminology Crime analysis Geographic analysis Offender interviewing Offender decision-making

Supancic* Michael Assistant Professor Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin

Criminal justice education Institutional policy development

Tillotson Stephen Lecturer Ph.D. Indiana University Bloomington

Corrections

(*) Can chair research theses.

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Table 4 (cont.). Full-time faculty at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Last name First name Position Highest degree Areas of interest / expertise

Vandiver* Donna Professor Ph.D. Sam Houston State University

Sex crimes Research methods Risk factors for recidivism

Vásquez* Bob Associate Professor Ph.D. SUNY – Albany Quantitative research methods Statistical techniques involved in modeling causes

of crime Criminological theory and in the unexamined

dimensions of peer influence Vaughan* Adam Assistant Professor Ph.D. Simon Fraser

University Policing Health criminology Mental health and substance use policy Environmental criminology

Williams* Howard Lecturer Ph.D. Texas State University Policing Management of criminal justice organizations Use of force, Taser

Withrow* Brian Professor Ph.D. Sam Houston State University

Police systems and practices Racial profiling Police officer decision-making Organizational behavior and development

(*) Can chair research theses.

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Full-time faculty at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology also serve as members in research thesis committees, so once again it helps to be familiar with their areas of interest and expertise. As will be explained later, you will need three faculty members in your thesis committee, and one of these will be the chair of the committee. Not all faculty members at the School will be available to chair research theses (please see Table 4; those with an asterisk after their name can chair).

Completing the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option Program When studying full-time, the MSCJ-Res program can be completed in as few as four continuous terms, or 16 months. In graduate school, full-time study involves registering for nine credit hours per term in the Fall and Spring terms, and six credit hours in the Summer term. With just 30 credit hours to complete, therefore, it would be possible to start the program in Fall one year and graduate in December of the following year (see Table 5) or to start the program in Spring one year and graduate in May of the following year (see Table 6). However, completing a research thesis is time-consuming and demanding, so only those students with outstanding time management and dedication (and a willingness to start conducting thesis-related preliminary work and planning as soon as they start the program) are advised to follow this route. More often, however, full-time students on the MSCJ-Res program complete the program over 21 months if they start in Fall (see Table 7) or two years if they start in Spring (see Table 8). Table 5. Possible program plan for a full-time MSCJ-Res student starting in Fall 2020 (16 months).

Term Course Credit hours Fall 2020 CJ 5315 Advanced Research Methods 3

CJ 5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice 3 One CJ elective 3

Spring 2021 CJ 5335 Advanced Criminological Theory 3 CJ 5316 Quantitative Data Analysis 3 One CJ elective 3

Summer 2021 CJ 5399A Thesis 3 Fall 2021 CJ 5310 Administration of Justice 3

CJ 5399B Thesis 3 One CJ elective 3

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Table 6. Possible program plan for a full-time MSCJ-Res student starting in Spring 2021 (16 months).

Term Course Credit hours Spring 2021 CJ 5335 Advanced Criminological Theory 3

CJ 5316 Quantitative Data Analysis 3 One CJ elective 3

Summer 2021 CJ 5399A Thesis 3 Fall 2021 CJ 5310 Administration of Justice 3

CJ 5315 Advanced Research Methods 3 CJ 5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice 3

Spring 2022 CJ 5399B Thesis 3 One CJ elective 3 One CJ elective 3

Table 7. Possible program plan for a full-time MSCJ-Res student starting in Fall 2020, without summer classes (21 months).

Term Course Credit hours Fall 2020 CJ 5315 Advanced Research Methods 3

CJ 5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice 3 One CJ elective 3

Spring 2021 CJ 5335 Advanced Criminological Theory 3 CJ 5316 Quantitative Data Analysis 3 One CJ elective 3

Summer 2021 NO CLASSES Fall 2021 CJ 5310 Administration of Justice 3

CJ 5399A Thesis 3 One CJ elective 3

Spring 2022 CJ 5399B Thesis 3

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Table 8. Possible program plan for a full-time MSCJ-Res student starting in Spring 2021, without summer classes (2 years).

Term Course Credit hours Spring 2020 CJ 5335 Advanced Criminological Theory 3

CJ 5316 Quantitative Data Analysis 3 One CJ elective 3

Summer 2020 NO CLASSES Fall 2020 CJ 5310 Administration of Justice 3

CJ 5315 Advanced Research Methods 3 CJ 5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice 3

Spring 2021 CJ 5399A Thesis 3 One CJ elective 3 One CJ elective 3

Summer 2021 NO CLASSES Fall 2021 CJ 5399B Thesis 3

Note how students first enroll in CJ 5399A Thesis, then CJ 5399B Thesis in a later term. It is possible to take CJ 5399A and CJ 5399B concurrently, but this can be done only with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate College, and it is highly unlikely that the student will receive approval without an approved thesis proposal on file. When studying part-time, students typically enroll for one or two courses in Fall/Spring and sometimes also one course in Summer. The Summer term is only three months long, which means Summer courses are completed in two thirds of the time of Fall/Spring courses and are, therefore, more time consuming and intensive. For this reason, only full-time students (who do not have other significant commitments, such as a full-time job) are advised to take two courses over the summer. A part-time student taking two courses in the Fall/Spring terms and one course in the Summer terms can complete their MSCJ Research Concentration program in two years. It is extremely important that you work closely with your Graduate Advisor when planning your program of study, and that you update her when things change (e.g., if you decide not to register for a course after a plan was made for you to do so). This is because careful planning will ensure you graduate when you intend you and that you have as many options as possible when choosing elective courses.

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Table 9. Possible program plan for a part-time MSCJ-Res student starting in Fall 2020, with summer classes (2 years).

Term Course Credit hours Fall 2020 CJ 5315 Advanced Research Methods 3

CJ 5325 Statistics for Criminal Justice 3 Spring 2021 CJ 5335 Advanced Criminological Theory 3

CJ 5316 Quantitative Data Analysis 3 Summer 2021 One CJ elective Fall 2021 CJ 5310 Administration of Justice 3

One CJ elective 3 Spring 2022 CJ 5399A Thesis 3

One CJ elective 3 Summer 2022 CJ 5399B Thesis

As a general rule, core courses are offered once a year and elective courses once every two years. For this reason, if you see an elective you’re interested in, you should register for it as it will likely not be offered again during the course of your program. All students must register for their core courses during their first year in the program, except for CJ 5310 Administration of Justice, which Fall-intake students may complete during their second year. This allows students more choice when it comes to your CJ electives, as just 2-3 CJ electives will be offered per Fall/Spring term (and typically just one in Summer). Although changes sometimes need to be made (e.g., due to low enrollment or other unexpected circumstances), we are working off the draft class schedule shown in Table 10, which you may want to use to plan your program of study. Your progress through the program can be tracked using the online degree audit, which you can access through CatsWeb. You are required to complete all program requirements within six years from the date of your initial enrollment, regardless of whether you are a full-time or a part-time student.

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Table 10. Draft class schedule for the MSCJ Research Concentration program (Fall 2020 to Spring 2022).

MON TUE WED THURS

Fall 2020

3.30-4.50 PM CJ 5333 Race [Arnio] CJ 5315 R Mthds [A. Jones] CJ 5333 Race [Arnio] CJ 5315 R Mthds [A. Jones]

5.00-6.20 PM CJ 5325 Statistics [S. Jones] CJ 5325 Statistics [S. Jones]

6.30-9.20 PM

CJ 5380T Crime, CJ & Media [Elsass]

CJ 5310 Admin of Justice [Stafford]

Spring 2021

5.00-6.20 PM CJ 5380R CJ

Pol [S. Jones] CJ 5355 Intel

[Mullins] CJ 5380R CJ Pol [S. Jones]

CJ 5355 Intel [Mullins]

6.30-9.20 PM

CJ 5322 Police [Vaughan]

CJ 5316 Quant Data Analysis [Vásquez]

CJ 5335 Theory [Sellers]

CJ 5330 Management [Williams]

Summer 2021

10-week ONLINE CJ elective TBC (minimum enrollment 5 students)

Fall 2021

2.00-3.20 PM

CJ 5334 Sex Offenders [Vandiver]

3.30-4.50 PM CJ 5315 Res Meth [A. Jones] CJ 5315 Res Meth [A. Jones]

5.00-6.20 PM CJ 5310 Admin of

Justice [Logan]

CJ 5325 Statistics [S. Jones] CJ 5325 Statistics [S. Jones]

6.30-7.50 PM

CJ 5319 Crime Analysis [Hewitt]

8.00-9.20 PM

Spring 2022

5.00-6.20 PM

CJ 5324 Investigations [Brimbal] CJ 5355 Intel [Mullins] CJ 5324 Investigations

[Brimbal] CJ 5355 Intel [Mullins]

6.30-9.20 PM

CJ 5380A Ethics and the CJS [McKenna]

CJ 5316 Quant Data Analysis [Vásquez]

CJ 5335 Theory [Sellers]

CJ 5330 Management [Williams]

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Completing the Research Thesis A research thesis is a great undertaking, so you should start planning as early as possible, preferably during your first term on the program. In fact, it would make sense to have an idea of what research area(s) you would like to explore prior to applying to join the program, as your statement of purpose should describe your intended research plans and, in line with this, the faculty member(s) you think you would like to work with. Although the thesis requires you register for just six credit hours (as a minimum), any preparatory work you undertake before registering will be invaluable.

Thesis Deadlines

One of the reasons you should start working on your thesis early is that you will need to meet specific thesis-related deadlines that are set for weeks before the end of the term. For example, if you intend to graduate in May, you will need to defend your thesis by early April and submit the final copy of your thesis by mid-April. It is helpful to plan backwards from these deadlines and to allow extra time as research – just like many other work-related tasks – often takes longer than anticipated. Recommended timelines for Fall and Spring intake students are presented in Table 11 and Table 12, respectively. Table 11. Recommended timeline for completing thesis-related tasks (Fall intake).

Term Course Fall 2020 Start literature search and identify thesis topic and possible chair

Agree research questions and methodology with thesis chair Spring 2021 Draft proposal and refine with feedback from chair

March – Draft proposal to committee April – Finalize proposal and obtain IRB clearance

Summer 2021 Write up thesis literature review and methodology sections Data collection and analysis

Fall 2021 Data collection and analysis Write up thesis results and discussion sections

Spring 2022 January – Full final draft to chair February – Full final draft to committee March – Thesis defense and final amendments April – Submit thesis and paperwork to Graduate College

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Table 12. Recommended timeline for completing thesis-related tasks (Spring intake).

Term Course Spring 2021 Start literature search and identify thesis topic and possible chair

Agree research questions and methodology with thesis chair Summer 2021 Draft proposal and refine with feedback from chair Fall 2021 Continue working on proposal

October – Draft proposal to committee November – Finalize proposal and obtain IRB clearance

Spring 2022 Write up thesis literature review and methodology sections Data collection and analysis

Summer 2022 Data collection and analysis Write up thesis results and discussion sections

Fall 2022 August – Full final draft to chair September – Full final draft to committee October – Thesis defense and final amendments November – Submit thesis and paperwork to Graduate College

Step 1: Identifying the Research Questions and Thesis Chair

After you have explored and familiarized yourself with the evidence base in your area of interest, you will hopefully be in a good position to formulate an appropriate research question and identify a faculty member who might be able to supervise your thesis research. Please refer back to Table 4 on page 15 for the areas of expertise/interest of the faculty members at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Once you find a potential chair, it would also be helpful to check their faculty profile to familiarize yourself further with their research and recent publications.

Step 2: Putting Together your Thesis Committee

You and your thesis chair will discuss what other faculty members may be appropriate for your committee. Your thesis chair must be a member of faculty at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology; in contrast, you are allowed committee members from other departments/schools from Texas State University.3 Overall, you need a minimum of three faculty in your thesis committee, namely one chair and two committee members. You could, however, have additional committee members (e.g., if you would like an experienced practitioner or academic expert

3 Please note that, if you have a minor, one of your committee members must be from the school/department of your minor.

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external to Texas State University to also advise you). Co-chairs are also allowable. All committee members must be approved by the Graduate College as Graduate Faculty. The thesis committee is officially formed when you submit your proposal and relevant documentation to the Graduate College (see next section). After this, changes to the committee – including the chair – may be made using the Thesis Chair/Committee Member Change Request Form.

Step 3: The Thesis Research Proposal

The next step is to prepare a thesis proposal with the guidance of your thesis committee. This proposal states the problem you intend to address and the research methodology you plan to use. The proposal should include a comprehensive discussion of the pertinent literature. Once your thesis chair and the rest of the committee approve your proposal, a copy of the final proposal and a completed Thesis Proposal Form are submitted to the Graduate College. The proposal form must bear original signatures of the student, the student's committee members, the Graduate Advisor, and the School Director. It is your responsibility to see that the proposed research procedures do not violate laws or university regulations. Any necessary permits and approvals must be secured prior to beginning the proposed research project. If your research project involves human subjects, you and your research advisor must understand university regulations governed by the Texas State Institutional Review Board (IRB). This permit is also required for research using secondary data sets or information collected for human beings as well. A request for exemption or an application must be submitted and be approved by the Texas State IRB before a research project involving the use of human subjects can begin (please refer to the IRB website for additional information). It is anticipated that the research design may need to be slightly modified over the course of the project. Revisions to the proposal are not necessary under such circumstances. However, if the thesis chair judges that major changes in the research design are necessary, or if a new topic is selected, the student must submit a new proposal.

Step 4: Carry Out and Write Up the Research

Once your proposal has been approved by your committee and the IRB, you are ready to go ahead and carry out the research, under your chair’s supervision. Finalize the literature review and methodology sections as soon as you can, so you spread out the writing. Work with your chair on your thesis drafts and keep an eye on your timeline, so you don’t get too behind. At some point, your chair will be satisfied your thesis draft is ready to be sent to the other committee members for feedback and for an assessment as to whether the thesis is ready to be defended.

Step 5: Defend your Thesis

When everyone in your committee agrees your thesis is ready to be defended, you will liaise with everyone in your committee to schedule a defense date. During this defense, you will give a brief

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presentation with an overview of your thesis research, main findings and implications, and this will be followed by questions from your committee and then, if applicable, the audience (all thesis defenses at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology are public). After all questions have been asked, your chair will ask you and the audience to leave the room, so the full committee can discuss your performance and decide whether you passed. After a decision has been reached (and this usually just takes about 5-15 minutes), you will be called back into the room to be told the outcome. If successful, the Thesis Submission Approval Form will be signed and sent along to the Graduate College. It is not unusual for this form to be signed at a later date, if the committee requests changes to the thesis are made. The deadline for thesis submission is just one week after the defense deadline, but you can defend earlier in the term to allow yourself more time to make any needed changes and prepare your thesis document for submission to the Graduate College.

Step 6: Submit the Final Draft of your Thesis to the Graduate College

A final copy of your thesis, incorporating any feedback received by your committee during the defense, must be submitted to the Graduate College via Vireo within the specified deadline. This will then be checked and, if there are still issues with formatting, they will send you a list of changes to be made. The Graduate College’s Thesis and Dissertation Resource Guides will be invaluable in ensuring your thesis is formatted appropriately, and also contains detailed information about the process briefly described in this handbook, additional resources, and helpful checklists.

The Comprehensive Examination All MSCJ students must complete a comprehensive examination to show they have mastered the main concepts covered in the program. MSCJ Research Concentration students are given two lists of concepts, one pertaining to the administration of justice and the other to research methods (see Appendix A). There are 50 concepts in each list, and five will be chosen from each list. You will be asked to define, apply, and discuss these ten terms in relation to your research thesis topic. If any of the key concepts is not relevant or applicable to your thesis, you will need to articulate why this is the case. The comprehensive examination will take place immediately after your thesis defense. Administration of the Examination You will submit your thesis document to your thesis committee and defend your thesis within the deadlines stipulated by the Graduate College. Your oral defense and examination may be conducted at a specified time either on campus (if in person) or on Zoom. Your thesis committee will grade both your thesis and your comprehensive exam. After your defense and oral examination concludes, the examining committee will ask you to leave the (virtual) room so they can deliberate. Soon after, you will be called back into the room to be

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notified of the outcome of your thesis defense and comprehensive examination. Retakes If you fail the thesis and/or the comprehensive examination, you will be allowed to resubmit and defense your thesis, and retake the comprehensive examination, the following semester, but you will have to register for CJ 5199B Thesis or GC 5101 Comprehensive Examination Contingency. CJ 5199B is a one-credit hour course that will allow you to continue working on your research thesis with your thesis committee. As explained in the Catalog, GC 5100 is a course designed for non-thesis master's degree students who have completed all program requirements except the comprehensive examination. It allows such students to remain active in the system to take the comprehensive examination; enrollment in GC 5100 is required each term in which the comprehensive examination is taken (only if no other courses are being taken that term). GC 5100 does not generate a grade and does not count toward degree requirements. There is no limit to the number of times a student on the MSCJ Research Concentration Thesis Option program can register for Thesis hours and/or take the comprehensive examination. Appeals If you disagree with the ruling of the examining committee, you may appeal in writing to the MSCJ Program Coordinator, Dr. Lucia Summers,4 within one week of the date of notification of the grade. Your appeal may be submitted by email and must include a clear justification. Dr. Summers will consider your written examination submission, the notes made by the examining committee, and discuss the outcome with the examining committee and the student, as needed. You will then be notified of the appeal decision within 10 days of the appeal being received. This decision will be final. If a decision is made in your favor, the comprehensive examination paperwork will be completed and you will be able to graduate that semester (if no other program requirements are to be met); if a decision is made to uphold your failing grade, you will be able to retake the comprehensive examination the following semester (please see Retakes section above). After passing the comprehensive examination, your thesis committee will complete and sign the Master’s Comprehensive Examination Report Form, which is then submitted to the Graduate College.

Graduating Once all program requirements have been met, you will be eligible to graduate. Program requirements will have been met once: 1) you have completed all five core courses, three CJ electives, and at least six credit hours of thesis courses; 2) you have successfully defended your research thesis and your thesis document has been approved by the Graduate College; and 3) you

4 If Dr. Summers is part of your thesis committee, Dr. Christine Sellers, School Director, will consider your appeal in her place.

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have passed your comprehensive exam. There is one more thing to do before you can graduate, however: you need to apply for graduation by the deadline specified each term. This deadline is usually set for approximately two months before the end of the term. Even if you are not sure if you’ll be able to graduate, you should apply. If you apply to graduate and end up not meeting the requirements for graduation that term, nothing happens. If you don’t apply within the deadline, you will NOT be allowed to graduate, even if all program requirements have been met. The GradBulletin, which you will receive by email every Friday, will remind you about this and other deadlines, so make sure you pay attention to this mailing!

Frequently Asked Questions

Applying for the Program

If I have been to another graduate school and have taken classes, can I transfer them in?

You can transfer up to six hours of graduate credit from an accredited institution if the grades are B or higher. These can be used to replace elective courses, but not core courses. As part of this process, you will need to submit both the official transcript(s) and course syllabus/syllabi for the course(s) completed, and these will be reviewed by both the graduate advisor and the Graduate College.

Can the GRE requirement be waived if I have already completed a master’s program in another discipline?

No. All applicants need to include their GRE scores in their application. Once you sit the test, your GRE scores will remain valid for five years.

I will sit the GRE before the application deadline but the results may not come in on time. Can my application be considered and a decision made about my being admitted into the program before the GRE scores arrive?

No. Incomplete applications cannot be formally reviewed by the admissions committee until all required documentation is on file.

What are the minimum GRE scores required for admission into the program?

There are no set minimum GRE scores. Instead, the requirement is that your GRE scores are competitive. Competitiveness is established by looking up the percentile (i.e., % of test takers who received a score lower than yours) in the GRE interpretation tables. For instance, if you get a score of 145 in the Quantitative Reasoning part of the test, this will not be very competitive, as only 18% of test takers would have received a lower score (i.e., 82%

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of test takers scored higher than you did). GRE scores are considered together with the other application materials in a holistic manner.

I’m interested in the MSCJ program, but I’d like a minor in another discipline. Can I use some/all of my elective courses to satisfy the minor requirement?

No. If you want to add a minor to your MSCJ program, you will be required to complete the minor credit hours (usually 6-12) in addition to the 30 credit hours required for your MSCJ program.

What information should I include in my statement of purpose? How long should this be?

Your statement of purpose will tell us about you and your potential fit with the program, and also about your writing ability. Graduate school is much more reading- and writing-intensive than any undergraduate program, so it’s important we assess how good of a writer you are as part of the admissions process. It’s unusual for anyone’s first draft to be of high quality; instead, good writing can only result from careful editing and rewriting. This is something graduate students realize as they complete their degrees! So please take the time to revisit and improve your statement of purpose until you’re happy with the final product.

In regards to the content, it’s important to clearly articulate what your goals are career-wise (e.g., what you expect to do after completing the MSCJ program, where you see yourself in 3-5 years’ time or even later) and how completing the MSCJ program at Texas State University will help you achieve those goals. At this point, it’s usually helpful to make reference to particular courses and/or faculty you think would be particularly helpful. This way, you’re showing you’ve researched the program and given your decision to apply to Texas State sufficient thought. MSCJ Research Concentration applicants should consider our faculty’s areas of research expertise and discuss how their own research interests match these. All MSCJ Research Concentration students will have to complete a research thesis supervised by one of our faculty, so you should already start thinking about which faculty member(s) you might be interested in working with.

Most statements of purpose are about 1-1.5 pages long if single-spaced, or 2-3 pages long if double-spaced.

Student Progress

Do I have to take courses every term or can I take a break?

Although most MSCJ students enroll continuously on Fall/Spring terms (many do not take courses over the Summer), you can, if needed, take a break from enrollment during a given Fall/Spring term. In such a case, it is advisable you complete a Leave of Absence Form. This

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form is optional, but completing and submitting it to your graduate advisor and the Graduate College will expedite your readmission the following term (see the Graduate College Leave of Absence Policy for more information).

I understand I need to complete all program requirements within six years, but extenuating circumstances (e.g., health issues) will prevent me from doing so. Can I apply for an extension?

Yes. If you are unable to complete all program requirements due to circumstances beyond our control, you can ask your program advisor to rely this request to the Dean of the Graduate College, Dr. Andrea Golato, for consideration. A detailed plan specifying how you will meet all remaining program requirements and your planned graduation date will need to be provided.

Completing the Thesis

I am completing my thesis but I need more time to complete it than the two terms during which I registered for CJ 5399A Thesis and CJ 5399B Thesis. Will this be a problem?

No. You need a minimum of six credit hours for your research thesis, but you can register for more hours if needed. (Note you need to be registered for thesis hours during the term when you defend.) The simplest way to do this is to register for CJ 5199B Thesis, which is a one-credit-hour course (as indicated by the second digit in the course numeric code). If needed, you can register for CJ 5199B on subsequent terms, until you are ready to defend your thesis. Registration for CJ 5199A, just like anything else related to your thesis progress, should be discussed and arranged with your thesis chair.

If you need additional thesis credit hours to count for your degree and thus be eligible for financial aid, you may need to complete the online Financial Aid Course Justification for Thesis/Dissertation Form.

I am a student on the MSCJ Research Concentration program, but I have changed my mind and no longer want to complete a thesis. Is it possible for me to do a professional paper instead?

All students on the MSCJ Research Concentration program need to complete a research thesis as a requirement for graduation. Unfortunately, there is no Non-Thesis Option for this program, and no allowable substitute for the thesis. You could, however, switch to the MSCJ Non-Thesis Option, although you must remember this degree option requires 36 credit hours (instead of the 30 required by the MSCJ Research Concentration). For more information about the MSCJ Non-Thesis Option, including graduation requirements, core courses, and more, please see https://www.cj.txstate.edu/degrees-programs/graduate/mscj-nc.html. If you decide to request the switch, you should consult the Graduate Advisor, as she will have to authorize the change. You can then both complete the Change of Minor/Concentration Form.

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Appendix A: Comprehensive Examination Key Terms

Comprehensive Examination ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

The list below comprises 50 terms relating to administration of justice that all CJ students, especially CJ master’s students, should know. During your oral comprehensive exam, you will be asked to explain the meaning of FIVE terms from the list below.

1. Administrative law 2. Case law 3. Statutory law 4. Civil law 5. Criminal law 6. Criminology 7. Felony 8. Jury nullification 9. Mala in se 10. Mala prohibita 11. Mens rea 12. Misdemeanor 13. Stare decisis 14. Crimes known to the police 15. Probation 16. Parole 17. Bail 18. Due process 19. Indictment 20. Grand jury 21. Miranda warning 22. Peremptory challenge 23. Racial profiling 24. Index offenses 25. National Incident-Based Reporting

System (NIBRS)

26. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

27. National Youth Survey 28. Self-report data 29. Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) 30. Felony murder 31. Homicide 32. Involuntary manslaughter 33. Voluntary manslaughter 34. Non-negligent manslaughter 35. Battery 36. Hate crime 37. Burglary 38. Fence 39. Selective incapacitation 40. Habeas corpus 41. Extradition 42. Loan sharking 43. Racketeering 44. Voir dire 45. Deferred adjudication 46. Indeterminate sentence 47. Writ 48. Evidence-based practice 49. Retribution 50. Deterrence

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Comprehensive Examination RESEARCH METHODS

The list below comprises 50 terms relating to research methods that all CJ students, especially CJ master’s students, should know. During your oral comprehensive exam, you will be asked to explain the meaning of FIVE terms from the list below.

1. Biased samples 2. Causality criteria 3. Conceptualization 4. Construct validity 5. Content analysis 6. Descriptive research 7. Descriptive and inferential statistics 8. Evaluation research 9. Explanatory research 10. Exploratory research 11. External validity 12. Face validity 13. Focus group 14. Null and experimental hypotheses 15. Independent and dependent variables 16. Induction and deduction 17. Informed consent 18. Institutional Review Board 19. Internal validity 20. Interobserver reliability 21. Data levels of measurement 22. Measurement validity 23. Mixed-method designs 24. Multistage cluster sampling 25. Mutually exclusive and exhaustive

answer options

26. Non-probability sampling 27. Nonresponse error 28. Operationalization 29. Piloting 30. Probability sampling 31. Protected or vulnerable populations 32. Qualitative research 33. Quantitative research 34. Quasi-experiment 35. Quota sampling 36. Random assignment vs. random

selection 37. Randomized-controlled trial or true

experiment 38. Regression to the mean 39. Samples and populations 40. Sampling error 41. Sampling frame 42. Selection bias 43. Semi-structured interview 44. Snowball sampling 45. Stratified random sampling 46. Test-retest reliability 47. Grounded theory 48. Theoretical (sampling to) saturation 49. Units of analysis 50. Validity and reliability