Research Policy: Upside Down and Back to Front? (From Policy and Theory in Criminal Justice, P 160-180, 1990, Don M Gottfredson and Ronald V Clarke, eds. -- See NCJ-130506)

• NCJ Number: 130516
• Author(s): D M Gottfredson
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Avebury Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This analysis of the research policies of governments and universities concludes that reversing their current orientations toward criminal justice research might be useful.

Abstract

Governments should give less emphasis to externally defined problems and proposed corrective actions and more attention to internally defined problem perceptions and innovative solutions. They should also increase the use of the action research model, which emphasizes an iterative and collaborative process involving research workers and policymakers. Similarly, universities must recognize that scientists focusing on criminology and criminal justice must often work in applied settings, because these settings are the proper laboratory for the development of scientific contributions in this area. Thus, both government funding agencies should recognize the need for close collaboration between researchers and practitioners and should seek to facilitate research rather than to direct it. Notes and 16 references