Research Specialist I (#MFDC01)
$41,255.00 Yearly Min / $51,569.00 Yearly Mid / $61,883.00 Yearly Max

Research Specialist II (#MFDC02)
$46,714.00 Yearly Min / $58,393.00 Yearly Mid / $70,072.00 Yearly Max

Research Specialist III (#MFDC03)
$59,894.00 Yearly Min / $74,867.00 Yearly Mid / $89,840.00 Yearly Max

This class series uses three levels in the Engineering, Planning, Technical Services occupational group, Research and Analysis occupational series and describes work providing criminal justice agencies with objective research analysis, recommendations and projections relating to criminal justice issues in order to improve the effectiveness of policy making, program development, planning and reporting.

Note: This career ladder series incorporates levels I,II, and III. The I level is to provide entry for hiring new employees into the class series but does not preclude hiring new employees at higher levels. Employees may be promoted through the career ladder in accordance with minimum qualifications and promotional standards. Promotional standards, a selection document under separate cover, sets forth the criteria that defines and describes the requirements that must be met at each level. Advancement of employees through the career ladder is dependent on an agency's/department's operational needs and distribution of work.

 

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Develops a research design and determines the kind of information needed; the data sources, data reliability, sampling, collection methods and selects appropriate methods in analyzing and evaluating the data.
   
• Collects and analyzes data for criminal justice research projects.
   
• Maintains databases for the Statistical Analysis Center.
   
• Performs literature searches on laws, previous studies, and compiles available statistics.
   
• Prepares comprehensive analytical and statistical reports.

Research  Specialist I

This is the entry level performing research activities and assisting higher level Research Specialists with criminal justice research projects. 

• Reports to the Director of the Statistical Analysis Center.
• Assists in the analysis of segments of projects using standard statistical methods, writing portions of reports and are assigned progressively more difficult program areas.
• Assists in research design, determination of kinds of information needed, data sources, appropriate type of analysis and method of presentation.

Research Specialist II

This is the full performance level performing research activities and participating in major projects as a team member.

• Conducts analyses in a variety of areas including evaluation of agencies' programs, policies, and procedures, makes projections of various populations and provides profiles in such areas as domestic violence, violent crime and drug use.
• Writes papers for publication and gives presentations for state and national organizations; represents the Director at meetings in area of expertise.
• Downloads data from mainframe computers using programming language.
• Utilizes statistical methods such as frequency distribution, trend analysis, quasi-experimental design, regression analysis, factor analysis, the computation of confidence levels and uses statistical software such as SPSS, SAS and SOLO.
• Designs and maintains databases and research instruments such as survey and geographical coding. 
• Contacts are with legislators, agencies and the public to respond to requests for information.

Research Specialist III

This is the lead level performing research studies independently on major criminal justices issues and are team leaders directing other analysts on large projects.

• Initiates proposals for the implementation of new studies.
• Creates nationally recognized innovative technology advances, such as prison population forecasting and the cost effectiveness of mandatory sentencing, and recidivism and classification analysis.
• Manages research studies in the areas of parolee, the impact of proposed legislation, analysis of sentencing initiatives, inmate recidivism modes, analysis of judicial practices, criminal justice population forecasts and demographic rate modes.
• Writes formal, analytical reports of studies, taking into consideration the different perspectives of the agencies involved in an issue.
• Contacts are with Governor's office, Criminal Justice Council Executive Committee, legislators, state and federal agencies and the public to respond to requests for information.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA's listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of data collection techniques.
• Knowledge of standard statistical methods.
• Knowledge of research design.
• Knowledge of the design and maintenance of databases.
• Knowledge of the locations and limitations of criminal justice data.
• Knowledge of the security requirements relating to criminal justice research.
• Ability to learn the operations and goals of all Delaware's criminal justice agencies.
• Ability to acquire a general knowledge of the federal and state's criminal laws.
• Ability to write clear, concise, informative reports.
• Ability to organize and analyze data.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective business relationships.

In addition to the above knowledge, skills and abilities, the Research Specialist II requires:

• Knowledge of research design, data collection, organization, analyses and presentation.
• Knowledge of advanced statistical methods.
• Knowledge of the sources, availability and reliability of data in the area under study.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of federal and state criminal law in areas under study.
• Knowledge of computer operations, programming, hardware and software capabilities and constraints.
• Knowledge of agency operations, goals and objectives within the criminal justice system.
• Ability to prepare papers for publication and gives presentations to national and state organizations.
• Ability to consider the different perspectives of involved agencies when writing a report.
• Ability to train lower level analysts.
• Ability to respond to inquiries.
• Ability to represent the Director in meetings.
• Ability to design and maintain databases.

In addition to the above knowledge, skills and abilities, the Research Specialist III requires:

• Knowledge of project management.
• Skill in research design for studies.
• Skill in advanced statistical methods.
• Ability to design and maintain unique research databases.
• Ability to respond to inquiries orally and in writing.
• Ability to translate technical words and terms into layman's language.
• Ability to perform effectively as a lead worker.
• Ability to create innovative technical advances in the field of research studies.
• Ability to be objective in performing analyses.
• Ability to perceive the requirement for a new study.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Research Specialist I
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

• Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Business Management, Computer Information Systems or related field.         

          OR

1. Six months experience in conducting studies such as evaluating operations, programs, services, policies and procedures to determine efficiency, effectiveness, whether goals and objectives are met and compliance with laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
2. Six months experience in descriptive statistics such as the mean, median, mode or standard deviation.
3. Six months experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
4. Six months experience in narrative report writing.
5. Knowledge of inferential statistics such as correlation, t-tests, f-tests or analysis of variance.
6. Knowledge of using statistical software such as SPSS or SAS.