ATS2555 Foundations in researching crime and justice
Faculty of Arts
ATS2555 Foundations in researching crime and justice is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 2 units.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ATS2555
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ATS2555
2 units list ATS2555 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisites:
- For Bachelor of Criminology students: ATS1420, ATS1421, ATS1422 and ATS1423
- For Criminology Major students: ATS1421 and ATS1423
Overview
In this unit you will learn about the most common methods for collecting and analysing data to illuminate the practice and impact of crime and justice. You will learn how to plan, apply critical thinking to and undertake fieldwork during the academic research process. Assessments will give you the opportunity to hone your research skills and incorporate data collection and analysis.
This unit focuses on core research skills that will be invaluable in any applied justice-related profession, as well as providing a foundation for further academic engagement.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- QuizzesQuiz / Test20%
- ReportWritten20%
- ReportWritten20%
- Research proposalWritten40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Critically assess how knowledge is collected, analysed, and presented;
- 2
Explain methods of data collection and analysis;
- 3
Engage actively and effectively in teamwork;
- 4
Identify and delineate the ethical considerations of a research project.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Learning resources
Required resources
There are required texts for this unit. Required texts are usually available for purchase through the University Bookstore (https://www.monash.edu/retail/books-and-merchandise-store/Textbooks) and are sometimes available for short-term loan or as eBooks through the library (https://www.monash.edu/library).
This unit requires access to a laptop that meets minimum specifications (https://www.monash.edu/esolutions/students/bring-your-own-device-byod). Free specialist software is available via MoVE (https://www.monash.edu/learning-teaching/innovation/learning-technologies/move).
Where it fits
ATS2555 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Chris Dollar
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Chris Dollar
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2555?
ATS2555 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after ATS2555?
ATS2555 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 2 units, including ATS3941 and ATS3945.
When is ATS2555 offered?
In 2026, ATS2555 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS2555?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2555 have an exam?
No. ATS2555 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2555?
ATS2555 is part of Criminology.