Case Study Analysis (Individual Submission)<\/p>\n
4\u20136 pages (approximately 1,500\u20132,000 words)<\/p>\n
40% of final course grade<\/p>\n
Week 6 \u2013 Sunday, 11:59 PM (Local Time)<\/p>\n
This assessment requires you to critically analyse a real-world case of deviant or criminal behaviour through a criminological lens. You are expected to select one well-documented case \u2014 such as a serial offense, organized crime operation, or form of institutional deviance \u2014 and examine it using major criminological theories. Your analysis should demonstrate your ability to connect theoretical perspectives to empirical evidence, evaluate societal responses, and reflect on policy or justice system implications.<\/p>\n
| Criterion<\/th>\n | Weight<\/th>\n | Description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n |
|---|---|---|
| Case Understanding & Contextualisation<\/td>\n | 20%<\/td>\n | Provides a clear, accurate, and relevant summary of the chosen case with strong contextual grounding.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Theoretical Application<\/td>\n | 30%<\/td>\n | Applies criminological theories with depth and precision to explain deviant behaviour.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Critical Evaluation<\/td>\n | 25%<\/td>\n | Assesses institutional and social responses with critical insight and evidence-based reasoning.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Structure & Coherence<\/td>\n | 15%<\/td>\n | Demonstrates logical organisation, clarity, and academic writing proficiency.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Referencing & Presentation<\/td>\n | 10%<\/td>\n | Uses scholarly sources appropriately, formatted to professional academic standards.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Merton\u2019s Strain Theory provides a valuable framework for interpreting the deviant trajectory in white-collar criminality. In the case of Bernie Madoff, the pursuit of socially approved goals, wealth, prestige, and success; was pursued through illegitimate means when structural barriers restricted legitimate advancement. This tension between cultural aspiration and institutional constraint reinforces Merton\u2019s argument that deviance arises not from individual pathology but from the social organization of opportunity. In this light, Madoff\u2019s conduct embodies a systemic failure rather than isolated moral deviance.<\/p>\n Learning Outcomes<\/h2>\nReferences<\/p>\n
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