Research Tools Friday 30th May 2008, University of Dundee

This objectives of this event for University academics and police analysts were:

• To begin a dialogue about the challenges of conducting different kinds of research and evaluation within the Police Service;
  
• To outline different research methodologies and their strengths, weaknesses and possible applications;
  
• To emphasise the importance of research design and the complex practical, political and ethical issues involved in conducting research;
  
• To increase mutual awareness of the pressures facing police officers seeking to formulate research questions and evaluations on the one hand, and academic researchers working within the constraints of University commitments and research council funding cycles on the other;
  
• To open up discussion about some of the practical applications of research and how it may be used to inform and shape practice

The Programme included four sessions:

• Issues in research design and evaluation;
  
• Research tools and analysis;
  
• Policing and research;
  
• The needs of the analysts

Copies of the PowerPoint presentations are available on request to Tim Heilbronn (t.d.heilbronn@dundee.ac.uk)

A small Working Group has been established to develop a further programme of events.