Abstract:
This article serves two purposes. Firstly, the authors reflect on 24 articles that were published
in the journal Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology, during the period
1989 to 2019 with reference to research that used university students as study populations.
Secondly, the results of a longitudinal survey involving 50 students that had registered for
undergraduate Criminology modules is presented. The 24 articles demonstrate a rich variety
of research themes with some having clear origins in prevailing debates of national interest at
the time they were published. The articles broadly covered students’ views, their behaviour
and matters related to teaching and learning in Criminology. The longitudinal results suggest
that students enter institutions of higher education with preconceived notions of crime and
criminality which are in likelihood a reflection of broader public opinion. Nevertheless, some
perceptions showed statistically significant shifts between their first year and third year of
undergraduate studying. Although the authors would like to claim that these shifts resulted
from exposure to Criminology modules, the influence of other academic modules and nonacademic sources of information cannot be ignored. Additionally, the way in which students
study (notably whether deep or surface learning takes place) and the teaching and learning
resources that universities invest in this regard, may well impact on students’ perceptions
about crime and criminality. the authors recommend inter-institutional research similar to the
extensive publications about students’ views, learning experiences and expectations of
Criminology as published in an early edition of the Acta Criminologica: Southern African
Journal of Criminology.
