CRJU 101: The American Criminal Justice System (Pavlik)

Welcome to this research guide for CRJU 101: The American Criminal Justice System for Dr. Kimberly Pavlik's class!

In this guide, you will find information about Thomas Cooper Library resources and services to help with your course assignments. This page provides general information to help you begin your research. Use the tabs on the left to navigate the research guide.

Where do you start? Sometimes choosing your topic is part of the research process! Your understanding of a topic may shift and evolve while you explore the scholarly literature.

Start by brainstorming your topic. What angles or subtopics interest you most? Think about the keywords and phrases you could use when searching for information on this topic and make a list – this list can help guide your searches. 

Also consider what kind of information you are looking for as different types of sources will provide different perspectives:

• Reference Sources can help you gain familiarity with your topic, narrow your research topic, provide overviews, and identify experts.
• Scholarly Journal Articles are best for empirical evidence  and peer-reviewed studies.
• Books provide broad coverage and historical context.
• News and Magazine Articles provide context for current events and real world examples.

Use these sources to gain familiarity with your topic, narrow your research question, provide context, and identify experts.