Papers completed for other courses may supplement the research and writing of your thesis. Select a topic that you already know something about. Experience working in the criminal justice field provides a wealth of information, resources, and personal contacts not available to most other students. You should consider an internship or some volunteer work, and be alert to research opportunities that may be appropriate for a Senior Thesis. Criminology relates to why particular crimes occur, and addresses the sociological, psychological, biological, or environmental factors related to the commission of crimes.
Criminological research focuses on testing theories that explain crime causation.
Criminal justice topics address the responses to crime by police, security, the judiciary, and corrections. Research on the effectiveness of laws and policies for preventing and responding to crime is essential. Students should recognize, however, that this is also one of the most difficult types of criminal justice research. Also note that Evaluative Research ranges from simple to more complex research designs.