IRM1501/101/3/2020

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2020

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY FOR LAW AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
IRM1501

Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Jurisprudence

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE ............................................................................................ 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 5
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 5
3.1 Lecturers....................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 6
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 6
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 6
4.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 6
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 6
4.4 Library services and resources information..............................................................................…...6

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 7

6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 7
7 PRACTICAL WORK ..................................................................................................................... 8
8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 8
8.1 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 8
8.2 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................... 9
8.2.1 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 9
8.2.2 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 9
8.3 Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 9
8.4 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 10
8.5 The assignments ........................................................................................................................ 11
8.6 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 12
8.7 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 12
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 12
10 ADDENDUM A: ASSIGNMENT FOR FIRST SEMESTER ......................................................... 13
11 ADDENDUM B: ASSIGNMENT FOR SECOND SEMESTER .................................................... 15
12 ADDENDUM C: PLAGIARISM POLICY OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW …………………………...17

13 ADDENDUM D: ACADEMIC HONESTY DECLARATION ………………………………………….19

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 IRM1501/101/3/2020

Dear Student

As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a transformation
charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this charter, we have also
placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. For your information, curriculum
transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and
the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their principles will be
integrated at both the programme and module levels, as a phased-in approach. You will notice
the implementation thereof in your modules, and we encourage you to fully embrace these
changes during your studies at Unisa.

1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE

Dear Student

We are pleased to welcome you to this module and hope that you will find it both interesting and
rewarding. You will be well on your way to success if you start studying early in the semester.
Take time to do the assignments properly. These include two formative assignments and one
summative assignment. All assignments must be submitted! The latter is a research portfolio
and forms the formal examination for this module. Therefore, there will be no venue-based sit-
down exam for this subject, only a research portfolio. The portfolio will be made available in
Tutorial Letter 201 together with the feedback on the assignments.

Because this is an online module, you need to use myUnisa to study and complete the learning
activities for this module. You need to visit the myUnisa website for IRM1501frequently. The
website for your module is IRM1501-18-S1 (first semester students) or IRM1501-18-S2 (second
semester students).

Because this is a blended module, you need to access your study materials and read what to do
for the module. Go to the website https://my.unisa.ac.za and log in with your student number
and password. You will see IRM1501-2018 - S1 or IRM1501 – 2018 - S2 in the row of modules
in the orange blocks across the top of the webpage. Remember you also need to check in the -
more- tab if you cannot find it in the orange blocks. Click on the module you want to open.

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Note: Some of your tutorial matter may not be available when you register. Tutorial matter that
is not available when you register will be posted to you as soon as possible, but is always
available on myUnisa.

Study guide: The study guide contains the study material you will need for this module. Make
sure that you study it carefully and do all the activities it contains.

Tutorial Letter 101: This tutorial letter contains important information about administrative
arrangements as well as the first two assignments for this module. We urge you to read it
carefully and to keep it at hand when working through the study material, completing the
assignments, preparing for the examination and addressing questions to your lecturers.

Tutorial Letter 301: Please read Tutorial Letter 301 in combination with Tutorial Letter 101 as it
provides you with important general information, including the required style of referencing and
citation and other relevant information that is pertinent on studying at Unisa and, specifically,
within the College of Law.

Additional tutorial letters that you may expect later in the semester will include, for example,
feedback on the assignments. We would like to point out that you must read all the tutorial
letters you receive during the semester immediately and carefully, as they always contain
important and, sometimes, urgent information. Also, take note that the tutorial letters you
receive form part of your study material and should be taken into account when you prepare for
the examination.

myUnisa and the internet: Remember that myUnisa provides you with additional opportunities
to take part in activities and discussions of relevance to this module and gives you easy access
to assignments and your results. However, you must be registered on myUnisa to be able to
submit assignments, gain access to the library functions and various learning resources,
download study material, “chat” online to fellow students about your studies and the challenges
you encounter, and participate in online discussion forums. An announcement will be sent out
on how to access myUnisa.

We hope that you will enjoy this module and wish you all the best!

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2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose
The purpose of this module is for students to gain the fundamental knowledge and skills
necessary to conduct research in the various fields, including the field of law and criminal
justice.

2.2 Outcomes
This module is directed at equipping students with the fundamental skills necessary for legal
research to enable them to:
 understand what research is about from a legal and criminal justice perspective
 understand the different phases of legal research and the interconnectedness
of these phases
 understand the differences between qualitative and quantitative research
methodology and how these apply in the field of law and criminal justice
 understand the different tools to conduct research
 understand the processes used in conducting research
 evaluate writing and citation of sources independently
 understand and apply the important ethical principles pertinent in research;
and
 understand and apply transformative constitutionalism.

3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturers
The lecturers responsible for this module appear below. If you are unable to get hold of us via
the landline, please write an email.

Prof M Swanepoel (module leader)

Brooklyn House, Office BH 2-45
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 012 433 9538
Cell: 083 278 9733 (strictly during office hours)

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Dr NQ Mabeka
Brooklyn House, Office BH 2-11
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 012 433 9513

MS PAN Nyawo
Brooklyn House, Office BH 2-39
Email: [email protected]
012 433 9439

3.2 Department
You can contact the Department of Jurisprudence as follows:
Telephone number: 012 433 9539

3.3 University
General Unisa contact details can be found in the My studies @ Unisa brochure, which you
should have received upon registration. Remember to use your student number when you
contact the university.

4 RESOURCES

4.1 Prescribed book(s)

There are no prescribed books for this module.

4.2 Recommended book(s)

There are no recommended books for this module.

4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

There are no e-reserves for this module.

4.4 Library services and resources information

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:
 for brief information go to: https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

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 for more detailed Library information, go to

http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
 for research support and services (e.g. Personal Librarians and literature
search services), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support
The Library has created numerous Library guides: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za
Recommended guides:
 request and find library material/download recommended material:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
 postgraduate information services:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
 Frequently asked questions about the Library: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
 Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability

Important contact information:

 https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask - Ask a Librarian
 [email protected] - technical problems accessing library online services
 [email protected] - general library related queries
 [email protected] - for queries related to library fines and payments

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study@Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies
This brochure has all the tips and information you need to succeed at distance learning and,
specifically, at Unisa.

6 STUDY PLAN
This module is taught online – this means that it is totally different from some of your other
modules at Unisa.

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  This means that all your study materials and learning activities are designed to be
online, on myUnisa. Even though we give you a printed copy to support your studies,
the module is designed to be completed online.
 This means that all of your assignments must be submitted online. It means that
you do all your activities and submit all your assignment on myUnisa. In other words, you
CANNOT post your assignments through the South African Postal Service.
 This means that all of the communication between yourself and the university also
happens online – by e-mail, in Discussions and through Questions and Answers. You
can use all of these ways to ask questions and contact your lecturers. This also means
that your lecturers will communicate with you in the same way – through e-mails, with
Announcements, in Discussions and with Questions and Answers

It is important to stress the tools that will be used for your formal assignments.
 Assignments: You will have to complete three written assignments in this module. The
third one is a research portfolio and will form the examination component of this module.
The portfolio will be made available in Tutorial Letter 201 together with the
feedback on the assignments. These assignments must be typed, and submitted
online as a PDF document in the same manner you submit all other assignments online.
They must be submitted using the online Assignments tool on myUnisa.

We will create several discussion forums for this module, one for social interaction between
students in this module and the others which will be used by the lecturers to address certain
topics and engage with the students on these topics.

7 PRACTICAL WORK
There is no practical work for this module.

8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Assessment plan
How the assessment system works: Only students who submit both the compulsory
assignments on or before the date of submission will be admitted to the examination. If you do
not submit the assignments, you will not be admitted to the examination.

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Both Assignments 01 and 02 will be taken into account for your year mark. Your year
mark constitutes 20% of your final mark. You need to obtain at least 40% in the examination
before your year mark will be taken into account.
How will this work in practice?

 Your YEAR MARK counts 20% (Assignment 01 counts 10% and Assignment 02
counts 10%) of your final mark.
 Your EXAMINATION MARK counts 80% of your final mark.
 Your FINAL MARK for the module will thus be calculated as follows:
20% (year mark) + 80% (examination mark) = 100% (final mark).

Very important: Please note that the examination for this module is not venue based. In other
words, you will not go to an exam venue and sit there to write the exam. Instead, you will get an
exam assignment contained in Tutorial Letter 201 that you need to complete and your exam
mark will be based on that.

8.2 Assignment numbers

8.2.1 General assignment numbers
You have to submit two compulsory assignments for this module – Assignment 01 and
Assignment 02. Assignment 03 is your examination assignment and must also be submitted
before the due date.

8.2.2 Unique assignment numbers

In addition to the general assignment number, each assignment has a unique number. These
unique numbers appear on the assignments below. Please ensure that this unique number is
clearly indicated on the assignments that you submit to the university.

8.3 Assignment due dates

Please note that no assignments will be accepted after the relevant due date. Also, please
note that your lecturers cannot grant any extension for the late submission of assignments.
Please stick to the due dates. This means that you should take into account the submission
dates for Assignments 01 and 02 when planning your study schedule. It also means that you
must plan ahead.

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 The closing dates for the submission of assignments are:
● First semester
Assignment 01: 16 March 2020 (unique number: 781145)
Assignment 02: 14 April 2020 (unique number: 742665)
Assignment 03 (exam): 22 May 2020 (unique number: 830610)

● Second semester
Assignment 01: 18 August 2020 (unique number: 771784)
Assignment 02: 17 September 2020 (unique number: 564771)
Assignment 03 (exam): 20 October 2020 (unique number: 625304)

8.4 Submission of assignments

Assignments may not be submitted by fax, e-mail or post.

You must submit your assignments electronically via myUnisa advisably before the due date as
there are usually problems with the system when submitting on exact due date. If myUnisa is
for, whatever reasons down, please submit at your nearest regional center.

For detailed information on assignments, please refer to the My studies @ Unisa

brochure, which you received with your study package, or the myUnisa website.

To submit an assignment via myUnisa:

 Go to myUnisa
 Log in with your student number and password
 Select the module
 Click on “Assignments” in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen
 Click on the assignment number you wish to submit
 Follow the instructions

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8.5 The assignments

IMPORTANT:

Both assignments are compulsory assignments and must be submitted on or before the
due date to gain access to the examination. Both Assignments 01 and 02 will count
towards your year mark.

Your lecturers do not have the authority to grant extension of time for the submission
of assignments.

All three assignments are written assignments. Commentary on the first two assignments will
be sent to all students and will be posted on myUnisa. Please note that you will be evaluated on
your writing skills in all your assignments.

Please check your answers as soon as you receive the commentary. Doing the assignments
and carefully studying the commentary on them constitute an important part of your learning
and should help you to be better prepared for the examination.

You will receive your exam assignment shortly after the submission date for Assignment 02. All
instructions regarding the form and content of the question for the assignment (and therefore for
the examination) will be contained in Tutorial Letter 201. The assignment/examination will also
be posted on myUnisa and an announcement will be sent out to inform you that the tutorial
letter has been uploaded.

Although students may work together when preparing assignments, each student must write
and submit his or her own individual assignment. In other words, you must submit your own
ideas in your own words. It is unacceptable for students to submit identical assignments on the
basis that they worked together. That is copying (a form of plagiarism) and none of these
assignments will be marked. Furthermore, you may be penalised or subjected to disciplinary
proceedings by the university.

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Please note that, in addition to your knowledge of the content of a module, you will also be
assessed on your writing and language skills. It is therefore important that you pay attention to
formulation (sentence construction) and language (spelling, grammar, punctuation) when
completing the assignment. Also note that cellphone language is not acceptable. Marks could
be deducted for poor writing skills.

8.6 Other assessment methods

There are no other assessment methods than the ones discussed.

8.7 The examination

The examination consists of a portfolio which will be contained in Tutorial Letter 201 together
with the feedback on your assignments.

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We receive many calls from students asking the same questions repeatedly. Please see Tutorial
Letter 301 for a range of frequently asked questions and also browse the internet.

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10 ADDENDUM A: ASSIGNMENT FOR FIRST SEMESTER

General requirements for all assignments in IRM1501:

1. All assignments must be typed and properly formatted.
2. All assignments must contain footnotes in the prescribed format.
3. Assignments that contain plagiarism will not be marked and may, in addition, lead to
disciplinary action by the university.
4. Remember that spelling, grammar and general language usage will also be assessed
and will form part of your final mark.

___________________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENT 01
CLOSING DATE: 16 March 2020
UNIQUE NUMBER: 781145
___________________________________________________________________________

Answer the following questions, keeping the general instructions above in mind.

Question 1
What is scientific research? (2)

Question 2
Find the following case:
Economic Freedom Fighters v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others, Democratic
Alliance v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others (CCT17/15) [2016] ZACC 11 and
discuss this case in the prescribed format.
(8)
TOTAL: [10]

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___________________________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT 02
CLOSING DATE: 14 April 2020
UNIQUE NUMBER: 742665
___________________________________________________________________________

Do research on the constitutional right to have access to health care services in South Africa
and write a 2 – 3-page essay on the topic.

Your essay must include footnotes in the prescribed format and a bibliography. You must
consult and use at least two books, two journal articles, one Act of parliament and one court
case in your essay. (20)

The following criteria will be used to assess your essay:

Use of language and formulation of sentences (5 marks)

Consistently following the correct style of reference in the footnotes (5 marks)
Quality of content (5 marks)
Correct use of sources (5 marks)

TOTAL: [20]

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11 ADDENDUM B: ASSIGNMENT FOR SECOND SEMESTER

___________________________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT 01
CLOSING DATE: 18 August 2020
UNIQUE NUMBER: 771784
___________________________________________________________________________

Answer the following questions, keeping the general instructions above in mind.

Question 1

What are the benefits of conducting research? (8)

Question 2

List different sampling tools that may be used by researchers. (2)

TOTAL: [10]

__________________________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT 02
CLOSING DATE: 17 September 2020
UNIQUE NUMBER: 564771
__________________________________________________________________________
Zakumi learnt from her uncles that she will not inherit her late parent’s estate, which included a
house. The basis for this decision was that she is a female and under customary law, only men
can inherit from the estate. Since Zakumi was the only child, her uncles recommended Zakumi’s
relative known as Thimbeza to inherit the estate. Zakumi approaches you for legal advice
regarding the constitutionality of the customary law that excludes her only because she is a
female. Discuss the relevant constitutional provisions and the case law. In your answer, indicate
whether or not you are in favour of the customary law position.

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Your essay must include footnotes in the prescribed format and a bibliography. You must
consult and use at least one book, one journal article, one Act of parliament and one court case
in your essay. (20)

The following criteria will be used to assess your essay:

Use of language and formulation of sentences (5 marks)
Consistently following the correct style of reference in the footnotes (5 marks)
Quality of content (5 marks)
Correct use of sources (5 marks)

TOTAL: [20]
Prof Swanepoel
Dr Mabeka
Ms Nyawo

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12 ADDENDUM C: PLAGIARISM POLICY OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW

The College of Law is committed to the Unisa ideal of research that is based on integrity,
quality and rigour. All work must meet the ideal of academic integrity. Academic integrity
can be defined as the meaningful and concerted effort to ensure honesty, trust, fairness,
respect and responsibility in research. All research at CLAW, whether a first-year
assignment or a doctoral thesis, should be guided by this ideal.

The opposite of academic integrity is academic dishonesty. In line with Unisa's policies,
the following activities are forms of academic dishonesty:

 Copying/cut-and-paste/patch-writing: This type of dishonesty involves just

copying someone else's work either word-for-word or changing it slightly without
indicating that it is copied by, for example, putting it in inverted commas or brackets.

 Absence of references: This involves using someone else's ideas, thoughts,

insights or data without acknowledging that they are not your own.

 Cheating/falsifying information: This is the manufacturing of data which does not

exist or leaving out contradictory evidence, also sometimes called cherry-picking.

 Padding: This refers to the practice of referring to sources that were not consulted,
but which makes the footnotes and/or bibliography seem more impressive.

 Too many quotes: This form of dishonesty is one where more than 15% of the
work consists of quotes.

 Incorrect referencing: Incorrect referencing shows a lack of rigour and of

disciplinary expertise.

 Helping someone cheat: This might range from the innocuous (allowing someone
to copy from you) to the more severe (providing someone with the means to cheat).
It is the reason why students are not allowed to hand in the same assignment, even
if they worked in a group.

PLEASE NOTE: If your work contains any of these forms of academic

dishonesty or any other kind of dishonesty not included here, you will be
awarded a mark of 0 (zero) and disciplinary action may be taken against
you. In addition all assignments, portfolios, dissertations and theses must
include a signed copy of the statement attached to this tutorial letter.

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13 ADDENDUM D: ACADEMIC HONESTY DECLARATION

DECLARATION

1. I understand what academic dishonesty entails and am aware of Unisa's

policies in this regard.

2. I declare that this assignment is my own, original work. Where I have used
someone else's work I have indicated this by using the prescribed style of
referencing. Every contribution to, and quotation in, this assignment from the
work or works of other people has been referenced according to this style.

3. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as his or her own work.

4. I did not make use of another student's work and submitted it as my own.

NAME: …………………………………………………………………………….……..
SIGNATURE: ………………………………………………….………………….…….
STUDENT NUMBER:.………………………………………………………………….
DATE: …………………………………………………………………….……………...

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