Student motivations for studying criminology: A narrative inquiry

Abstract

The number of students studying criminology at university has significantly increased. Yet, criminology students have been all but ignored in research, despite being key stakeholders and ambassadors in the criminological enterprise. Drawing on the analysis of 12 in-depth interviews, we explore why students are motivated to study criminology and how these motivations are linked to their past experiences and future aspirations. Using a narrative inquiry, three types of stories emerged through our analysis: stories about (1) building on existing interests, (2) understanding the ‘self’, and (3) securing ‘justice’ and ‘helping’ others. The stories students tell about their exposure to ‘crime’ help motivate their decision to study criminology, while their engagement with the discipline, enables them to make sense of these previous experiences and of themselves.

Criminalised, victimised or other? A reflexive engagement with Queer Criminology utilising a relational pedagogical approach

“…We note that throughout our careers, we have actively championed the voices of LGBTQIA+ students alongside other key intersectional dimensions of difference, such as gender and ethnicity/race. We understand that in more cases than often, undergraduate programmes recruit high numbers of White cisgender female students, with such accomplishments actively celebrated throughout our careers inter alia institutional widening participation agendas (see also Trebilcock and Griffiths, 2022 ). As a cisgender de-colonial feminist scholar, Evangelia Koumentaki has critically questioned such administrative endorsements by pointing out that although the institution has promoted inclusive strategies to welcome female students, queer identities are nonetheless silent within recruitment strategies and final numbers (Colliver, 2021 ).…”

Validity & Reliability of Native American Indian Ethnic Identity Measures for Use as an Identity Construct in Criminology

“…by a Harvard researcher (Scheiber, 2023), to 'adjusting' or "faking" data to fit the desired outcome criteria to advance an individual's personal agenda (an agenda based on ethnicity no less!) (Schlott, 2023;Jaschik, 2023;DailyMail, 2023) are among several recent humiliating instances of researcher misconduct that has led the larger scientific body to address the field of criminology, as an institution, 'made-up of' and 'for the benefit of' fraudsters and other deviants (Trebilcock & Griffiths, 2021). 2 Thus, issues of scientific validity and its 'right hand' reliability must be forefront to all matters related to research within the entire field of criminology lest our combined efforts to achieve legitimacy in the eyes of other scientists be quelched.…”

‘I just think it’s really awkward’: transitioning to higher education and the implications for student retention

“…Relatedly, students sometimes cited personal experience of the criminal justice system and a desire to make things better or help people as a motivation for studying criminology (see also Trebilcock and Griffiths 2021). …I'm talking quite a few years ago my son was a young offender and the things that we went through, I thought if I can go in there and change something or help a service somewhere, then I want to do that because it wasn't very good at the time.…”

“…Participants often cited 'interest' as a reason for studying criminology thus, if students maintain interest in the topic, criminology might be understood as a protective factor against attrition (see also Trebilcock and Griffiths 2021). .Students were keen to build on their existing interests.…”

“…This is relatively under-researched in the UK context, despite it being a popular choice of course -currently there are 800 programmes in the UK which involve criminology (Levi 2017 cited in Trebilcock and Griffiths 2021, p.1). Students studying criminology report being motivated to do so by a strong interest in the subject, a desire to help people, to support future career plans or because they have experienced crime (Trebilcock and Griffiths 2021). For these reasons, it is expected that HE has a long-term transformative effect if students are retained on their programme.…”