IRM1501
Introduction to Research Methodology for
Law and Criminal Justice
80 Marks
Duration from 1 October 2025 at 08h00 until 7 October 2025 at 12h00 mid-day
Unique number: 815422
Examiner: Prof NQ Mabeka
Second examiner: Prof M Swanepoel
1
, This paper consists of 6 pages.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR A PORTFOLIO
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
BEFORE ANSWERING THE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. FAILURE
TO DO SO COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR PERFORMANCE
IN THIS PORTFOLIO EXAMINATION. CLAIMING THAT YOU WERE
IGNORANT OF THE RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT
ASSIST YOU IF YOU FAIL TO FOLLOW THEM.
1. The examination question paper counts 80 marks.
2. It consists of 5 (five) questions. Answer ALL the questions.
3. The duration of the examination is 4 days and 12 hours. Your portfolio must
be submitted via myModules by 7 October 2025 at 12h00 (South African
Standard Time). If the completed portfolio is not submitted before this
time, a mark of 0% (zero) will be awarded and you will fail the module.
4. This is an open-book examination. You may consult your prescribed study
material during the examination.
5. Do not underestimate this portfolio – start early and submit early. No
extensions will be granted under any circumstances.
6. Please complete this portfolio examination by writing or typing out your
answers to the questions. You do not have to rewrite/retype the questions,
but make sure that your answers are numbered correctly.
7. You must submit your portfolio online on myModules on Moodle in PDF
format. Convert your typed document to a PDF document, or scan in your
written or typed pages to create one single PDF document.
8. Answer all the questions.
9. Read the questions very carefully before answering. Where a question
asks that you address more than one aspect, each element of the
question should be addressed in your answer. Also, use the marks
allocated to a question as a guideline on how much information to provide
in your answer. If a question counts only 1 mark, it is not necessary to
write a paragraph or an essay. Likewise, if a question counts 4 or more
marks, it is not sufficient to write only Yes/No, or a few words.
10. When you summarise cases or information extracted from the study guide
and/or other sources, please use your own words, if you don’t do that, it
constitutes plagiarism. No marks will be awarded to answers that contain
plagiarised content.
2