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SEP3707 Assignment 2 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) - DUE April
2026
Criminal Justice Research Methodology
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
Contents
QUESTION 1 ...................................................................................................................................3
1. Identification of Relevant Academic Sources ....................................................................3
1.1 Jewkes, Y. (2015). Media and Crime...............................................................................3
1.2 Surette, R. (2015). Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice ...............................................3
1.3 Roberts, J.V. and Hough, M. (2016). Public attitudes to punishment and crime ......3
1.4 Altbeker, A. (2007). A Country at War with Itself ..........................................................3
1.5 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2023). Global Study on
Homicide ..................................................................................................................................4
QUESTION 2 ...................................................................................................................................4
2. Importance of Background Reading in Research ..............................................................4
2.1 Establishing Theoretical Framework .............................................................................4
2.2 Identifying Research Gaps ..............................................................................................4
2.3 Avoiding Duplication .......................................................................................................5
2.4 Informing Research Design ............................................................................................5
2.5 Enhancing Credibility and Academic Rigor ..................................................................5
QUESTION 3 ...................................................................................................................................6
3. Research Aim and Objectives ..............................................................................................6
3.1 Research Aim ....................................................................................................................6
3.2 Research Objectives ........................................................................................................6
QUESTION 4 ...................................................................................................................................7
4. Critical Analysis of the Appropriate Research Approach .................................................7
4.1 Quantitative Research Approach ...................................................................................7
4.2 Qualitative Research Approach ......................................................................................8
4.3 Most Appropriate Approach............................................................................................9
QUESTION 5 ...................................................................................................................................9
5. Unit(s) of Analysis ..................................................................................................................9
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5.1 Primary Unit of Analysis: Individual Members of the Public ......................................9
5.2 Secondary Unit of Analysis: Media Content (Optional Analytical Component) ..... 10
QUESTION 6 ................................................................................................................................. 10
6. Sampling Strategy................................................................................................................ 10
6.1 Proposed Sampling Method: Stratified Random Sampling ...................................... 11
6.2 Selection Procedure ....................................................................................................... 11
6.3 Justification for Stratified Random Sampling ............................................................ 11
6.4 Why Not Convenience Sampling?................................................................................ 12
QUESTION 7 ................................................................................................................................. 12
7. Data Collection Method ....................................................................................................... 12
7.1 Selected Method: Structured Questionnaire (Survey) ............................................... 12
7.2 Justification for the Questionnaire .............................................................................. 13
QUESTION 8 ................................................................................................................................. 13
8. Data Collection Instrument ................................................................................................. 13
Section A: Demographic Information ................................................................................ 13
Section B: Media Exposure ................................................................................................. 14
Section C: Perceptions of Crime and Safety..................................................................... 15
Instrument Design Justification ......................................................................................... 15
QUESTION 9 ................................................................................................................................. 16
9. Data Analysis Plan ............................................................................................................... 16
9.1 Data Preparation ............................................................................................................. 16
9.2 Descriptive Statistics ..................................................................................................... 16
9.3 Inferential Statistics ....................................................................................................... 16
9.4 Interpretation of Results ................................................................................................ 17
QUESTION 10 ............................................................................................................................... 17
10. Ethical Considerations in Conducting the Study........................................................... 17
10.1 Informed Consent ............................................................................................................ 17
10.2 Voluntary Participation and Right to Withdraw ............................................................ 18
10.3 Confidentiality and Anonymity ....................................................................................... 18
10.4 Protection from Harm ...................................................................................................... 19
10.5 Integrity and Avoidance of Deception ........................................................................... 19
10.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 20
References .................................................................................................................................... 20
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QUESTION 1
1. Identification of Relevant Academic Sources
The study aims to explore the relationship between media coverage and public
perceptions of crime in South Africa. The following five academic sources are relevant
because they provide theoretical, empirical and contextual foundations for the proposed
research:
1.1 Jewkes, Y. (2015). Media and Crime
Jewkes (2015) examines how crime is represented in the media and how media
narratives shape public perceptions of crime and fear. This source is relevant because it
provides theoretical frameworks such as media framing, moral panic and news values,
which are essential for analysing how crime is portrayed in South African media.
1.2 Surette, R. (2015). Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice
Surette (2015) discusses the relationship between media consumption and public
perceptions of crime, including the concept of the “mean world syndrome”. This is
directly relevant to the case study, which highlights a potential disconnection between
official crime statistics and public perceptions.
1.3 Roberts, J.V. and Hough, M. (2016). Public attitudes to punishment and crime
Roberts and Hough (2016) explore how public perceptions of crime often differ from
official statistics and are influenced by media exposure and political discourse. This
source is relevant for understanding how public fear and mistrust in the criminal justice
system develop.
1.4 Altbeker, A. (2007). A Country at War with Itself
SEP3707 Assignment 2 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) - DUE April
2026
Criminal Justice Research Methodology
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
Contents
QUESTION 1 ...................................................................................................................................3
1. Identification of Relevant Academic Sources ....................................................................3
1.1 Jewkes, Y. (2015). Media and Crime...............................................................................3
1.2 Surette, R. (2015). Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice ...............................................3
1.3 Roberts, J.V. and Hough, M. (2016). Public attitudes to punishment and crime ......3
1.4 Altbeker, A. (2007). A Country at War with Itself ..........................................................3
1.5 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2023). Global Study on
Homicide ..................................................................................................................................4
QUESTION 2 ...................................................................................................................................4
2. Importance of Background Reading in Research ..............................................................4
2.1 Establishing Theoretical Framework .............................................................................4
2.2 Identifying Research Gaps ..............................................................................................4
2.3 Avoiding Duplication .......................................................................................................5
2.4 Informing Research Design ............................................................................................5
2.5 Enhancing Credibility and Academic Rigor ..................................................................5
QUESTION 3 ...................................................................................................................................6
3. Research Aim and Objectives ..............................................................................................6
3.1 Research Aim ....................................................................................................................6
3.2 Research Objectives ........................................................................................................6
QUESTION 4 ...................................................................................................................................7
4. Critical Analysis of the Appropriate Research Approach .................................................7
4.1 Quantitative Research Approach ...................................................................................7
4.2 Qualitative Research Approach ......................................................................................8
4.3 Most Appropriate Approach............................................................................................9
QUESTION 5 ...................................................................................................................................9
5. Unit(s) of Analysis ..................................................................................................................9
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5.1 Primary Unit of Analysis: Individual Members of the Public ......................................9
5.2 Secondary Unit of Analysis: Media Content (Optional Analytical Component) ..... 10
QUESTION 6 ................................................................................................................................. 10
6. Sampling Strategy................................................................................................................ 10
6.1 Proposed Sampling Method: Stratified Random Sampling ...................................... 11
6.2 Selection Procedure ....................................................................................................... 11
6.3 Justification for Stratified Random Sampling ............................................................ 11
6.4 Why Not Convenience Sampling?................................................................................ 12
QUESTION 7 ................................................................................................................................. 12
7. Data Collection Method ....................................................................................................... 12
7.1 Selected Method: Structured Questionnaire (Survey) ............................................... 12
7.2 Justification for the Questionnaire .............................................................................. 13
QUESTION 8 ................................................................................................................................. 13
8. Data Collection Instrument ................................................................................................. 13
Section A: Demographic Information ................................................................................ 13
Section B: Media Exposure ................................................................................................. 14
Section C: Perceptions of Crime and Safety..................................................................... 15
Instrument Design Justification ......................................................................................... 15
QUESTION 9 ................................................................................................................................. 16
9. Data Analysis Plan ............................................................................................................... 16
9.1 Data Preparation ............................................................................................................. 16
9.2 Descriptive Statistics ..................................................................................................... 16
9.3 Inferential Statistics ....................................................................................................... 16
9.4 Interpretation of Results ................................................................................................ 17
QUESTION 10 ............................................................................................................................... 17
10. Ethical Considerations in Conducting the Study........................................................... 17
10.1 Informed Consent ............................................................................................................ 17
10.2 Voluntary Participation and Right to Withdraw ............................................................ 18
10.3 Confidentiality and Anonymity ....................................................................................... 18
10.4 Protection from Harm ...................................................................................................... 19
10.5 Integrity and Avoidance of Deception ........................................................................... 19
10.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 20
References .................................................................................................................................... 20
, 3|Page
QUESTION 1
1. Identification of Relevant Academic Sources
The study aims to explore the relationship between media coverage and public
perceptions of crime in South Africa. The following five academic sources are relevant
because they provide theoretical, empirical and contextual foundations for the proposed
research:
1.1 Jewkes, Y. (2015). Media and Crime
Jewkes (2015) examines how crime is represented in the media and how media
narratives shape public perceptions of crime and fear. This source is relevant because it
provides theoretical frameworks such as media framing, moral panic and news values,
which are essential for analysing how crime is portrayed in South African media.
1.2 Surette, R. (2015). Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice
Surette (2015) discusses the relationship between media consumption and public
perceptions of crime, including the concept of the “mean world syndrome”. This is
directly relevant to the case study, which highlights a potential disconnection between
official crime statistics and public perceptions.
1.3 Roberts, J.V. and Hough, M. (2016). Public attitudes to punishment and crime
Roberts and Hough (2016) explore how public perceptions of crime often differ from
official statistics and are influenced by media exposure and political discourse. This
source is relevant for understanding how public fear and mistrust in the criminal justice
system develop.
1.4 Altbeker, A. (2007). A Country at War with Itself
