UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
College of Law
Department of Criminology & Security Science
SEP3707
Research Methodology in
Criminal Justice and Penology
Assignment 2
Semester 1, 2026
Due: April 2026
Module: SEP3707 – Research Methodology
Assignment: Assignment 2
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Institution: University of South Africa (UNISA)
Referencing Style: APA 7th Edition
Compiled in accordance with UNISA/TMS academic standards
,UNISA | SEP3707 Research Methodology – Assignment 2
Contents
Question 1: Define the term “Methodology” 2
Question 2: Research Ethics 3
Question 3: Research Proposal 4
Question 4: Research Proposal and Basic Questions 5
Question 5: Background Reading 6
Question 6: Case Study 7
Question 7: Essay 13
Additional Questions 16
Reference List 27
Page 1 of 28
, UNISA | SEP3707 Research Methodology – Assignment 2
Question 1: Define the term “Methodology” [3 marks]
1. Definition of Methodology
Methodology refers to the overarching framework of principles, strategies, and procedures that
guide a researcher in designing and conducting a study. It is the theoretical foundation that
governs how research is approached, including the selection of methods, the reasoning behind
those choices, and the philosophical assumptions about knowledge and reality that underpin
the research process (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).
In criminological and social science research, methodology determines whether a study will
adopt a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approach, and it justifies why particu-
lar data collection and analysis tools are appropriate for addressing the research problem. As
Mouton (2001, p. 35) explains, methodology concerns itself with how knowledge is produced,
not merely which instruments are used.
Key Distinction
Methodology is often confused with methods. Methods are the specific tools used to col-
lect data (for example, interviews or surveys), while methodology is the broader philo-
sophical rationale that justifies why those tools were chosen. A researcher who uses
interviews without explaining the methodological basis for that choice has described a
method, not a methodology (Bryman, 2016).
Page 2 of 28
College of Law
Department of Criminology & Security Science
SEP3707
Research Methodology in
Criminal Justice and Penology
Assignment 2
Semester 1, 2026
Due: April 2026
Module: SEP3707 – Research Methodology
Assignment: Assignment 2
Semester: Semester 1, 2026
Institution: University of South Africa (UNISA)
Referencing Style: APA 7th Edition
Compiled in accordance with UNISA/TMS academic standards
,UNISA | SEP3707 Research Methodology – Assignment 2
Contents
Question 1: Define the term “Methodology” 2
Question 2: Research Ethics 3
Question 3: Research Proposal 4
Question 4: Research Proposal and Basic Questions 5
Question 5: Background Reading 6
Question 6: Case Study 7
Question 7: Essay 13
Additional Questions 16
Reference List 27
Page 1 of 28
, UNISA | SEP3707 Research Methodology – Assignment 2
Question 1: Define the term “Methodology” [3 marks]
1. Definition of Methodology
Methodology refers to the overarching framework of principles, strategies, and procedures that
guide a researcher in designing and conducting a study. It is the theoretical foundation that
governs how research is approached, including the selection of methods, the reasoning behind
those choices, and the philosophical assumptions about knowledge and reality that underpin
the research process (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).
In criminological and social science research, methodology determines whether a study will
adopt a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approach, and it justifies why particu-
lar data collection and analysis tools are appropriate for addressing the research problem. As
Mouton (2001, p. 35) explains, methodology concerns itself with how knowledge is produced,
not merely which instruments are used.
Key Distinction
Methodology is often confused with methods. Methods are the specific tools used to col-
lect data (for example, interviews or surveys), while methodology is the broader philo-
sophical rationale that justifies why those tools were chosen. A researcher who uses
interviews without explaining the methodological basis for that choice has described a
method, not a methodology (Bryman, 2016).
Page 2 of 28
