Writing Up and Presenting Criminological Research

Hall, Alexandra (2018) Writing Up and Presenting Criminological Research. In: Doing Criminological Research. Sage, London, UK; Thousand Oaks, California; New Delhi, India; Singapore, pp. 161-178. ISBN 9781473902725

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Abstract

The final stage of any criminological research project is writing up and presenting findings. However, writing up, which follows a number of phases through formulation, data collection and analysis, is not just a technical exercise but also a space for the further development of the research. It is the opportunity to bring the distinct elements of the research together, to re-read the notes, literature review and data sets, to further analyse and theorize, and to begin to make a clear and sophisticated argument. Successfully writing up and presenting your research can be a very rewarding experience that brings with it a great feeling of accomplishment. It can also be a demanding, frustrating, nerve-wracking and, at times, tedious task.

Forms of reporting available to social researchers today include conventional and alternative possibilities, all of which involve particular processes requiring careful consideration and planning in terms of structure and style (Thody, 2006). Written and oral presentation remain the most common forms of dissemination in the social sciences, both of which comprise of conventional and unconventional styles. In recent years, however, new methods of dissemination have begun to appear. In criminology, for instance, the recent ‘visual turn’ has paved the way for an increased use of images in criminological research, with photographs (see Carrabine, 2012), illustrations (e.g. Stephens Griffin, 2015) and documentary film (e.g. Redmon, 2005) growing in popularity.

This chapter focuses on writing up and presenting criminological research. While the primary focus is on writing up, the chapter also explores various other dissemination techniques. The chapter begins with writing up, outlining the traditional method and structure that can be followed by university students writing up a dissertation/thesis or research report. This is followed by discussions of oral presentations and emerging visual and virtual forms of presentation. It finishes by offering some ‘top tips’ that might be of help during the process.

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