REU Site: Connecting Research to Practice in Crime Analytics

该项目由社会、行为和经济科学局(SBE)的本科生研究经验(REU)站点计划资助。拟建的REU网站汇集了阿肯色大学(UA)的一个跨学科研究团队和全国各地的犯罪学/刑事司法从业者，为学生提供机会学习创新的犯罪分析方法，以研究当今一些最紧迫的社会问题。REU网站旨在为对犯罪分析有广泛兴趣的学生以及对以下问题有更具体兴趣的学生提供深入的研究体验：1)恐怖主义、暴力极端主义和仇恨犯罪；2)社区和犯罪。犯罪和司法报道占媒体关注的很大比例，而刑事司法和国土安全仍然是地方、地区和国家各级政策制定的突出关切。REU网站整合了外部机构、组织和公司以及外部教员，提供专注于数据到实践的全面研究体验。主要目标是培训学生解决问题、制定研究计划、对数据进行基本分析，并将研究结果传达给不同的受众。在这样做的过程中，项目团队将产生可能影响司法政策的研究成果，制定预防犯罪战略，并创建更安全的社区。这将通过以下方式实现：1)吸引和指导多样化和代表性不足的本科生，2)就当前的研究最佳实践对本科生进行教育和培训，3)说明学术工作和犯罪分析从业人员之间的联系，以及4)在本科生中建立技能和社交网络，以获得研究生院和职业上的成功。我们正在广泛地培训社会科学家，同时强调在刑事司法和犯罪学项目中为不同群体进行研究和犯罪分析的重要性。在REU期间获得的知识和技能可转移到学生的母校、研究生院、社区和工作人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is funded from the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). The proposed REU site brings together an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Arkansas (UA) and criminology/criminal justice practitioners throughout the nation to provide students opportunities to learn innovative crime analysis approaches for studying some of today’s most pressing social problems. The REU site is designed to provide an in-depth research experience for students who have an interest in crime analytics broadly, as well as for students who have more specific interests in issues of: 1) terrorism, violent extremism, and hate crime and 2) community and crime. Crime and justice stories account for a significant proportion of media attention, while criminal justice and homeland security remain prominent concerns for policy development at local, regional, and national levels. The REU site integrates external agencies, organizations, and corporations along with external faculty members to provide a well-rounded research experience focused on data-to-practice.The primary goal is to train students to problem solve, develop a research plan, conduct basic analyses of data, and communicate research findings to diverse audiences. In doing so, the project teams will produce research findings with the potential to impact justice policy, develop crime prevention strategies, and create safer communities. This will be achieved by: 1) engaging and mentoring diverse and underrepresented undergraduate students, 2) educating and training undergraduate students on current research best practices, 3) illustrating connections between academic and practitioner work in crime analytics, and 4) building skills and social networks among undergraduate students for graduate school and professional success. We are training social scientists broadly, while highlighting the importance of research and crime analytics for diverse groups in criminal justice and criminology programs. The knowledge and skills gained during the REU are transferable to the student’s home institution, graduate school, community, and workforce.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.