In this paper, we discuss ways collaborative research groups can be used and what students appear to learn about social science reasoning and quantitative literacy from such groups. Data are from field observations, pre- and post-semester surveys in both collaborative and traditional courses, end of the semester student comments, and student work on semester-long group-based projects. The findings illuminate teaching and learning processes, cognitive and personal learning outcomes, and remaining challenges. Students resist having to work in groups, while simultaneously becoming attached to their group and acknowledging its importance. In the end, many students see the importance of both social science reasoning and quantitative skills and demonstrate the ability to articulate key components of both. Challenges that remain include more specific measures of particular skills, potential group conflicts, and active learning within a culture of consumerism and entitlement.
This paper addresses constitutional safeguards as they apply to capital punishment; specifically, the lack of such safeguards regarding the use of prosecutorial discretion. In particular, the use of discretion at the charging stage is examined. Such analysis shows clear room for misuse of discretion and seeks to find methods by which such discretion can be restrained. Lastly, the existence of such misuse, and the implications for arbitrary and discriminatory application of the death sentence, raise issues of state priorities. Specifically, what is at issue is equality of justice having to compete with bureaucratic efficiency, and the implications of such competition for the justice system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.