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Criminological Research and Statistics
Topic 1
INTRODUCTION
Research is a key to progress. There can be no progress without research in this

world. People believe and also rely on the research made by somebody else. Most especially
if it is proven to be effective and factual. In government, in education, in trade and commerce,
and in all types and kinds of industries, research is vital and essential. Therefore, the
methods and techniques must be taught and learned in all educational institution for
purposes of knowing and advancement.
Dean J. Champion, on his book Research Methods for Criminal Justice and
Criminology. Criminology and Criminal Justice research involves a great deal of writing.
Professors expect students to write term papers, case study, policy related, action based,
thesis, and undertake other projects to explore the different ways in which criminological
research will be carried out. This is very important in compliance with the requirements of
Bachelor of Science in Criminology. These projects will result in requiring the students
become involved in more elaborate research projects. Several types of writing will be
examined to, include term papers, literature reviews, position papers, theses and
dissertations.
According to Dean J. Champion, What are the major reasons for conducting
criminological research?
(1) Acquiring knowledge for the sake of knowledge;
(2) Determining answers to practical questions;
(3) Adding to the growing body of knowledge in the profession; and
(4) Acquiring useful knowledge and skills to transmit this information to others and
to direct their investigation.
a. It is a basis why people behave and react to the situation.
b. It is the basis why parents had been sending their children to school, to
learn, to advance and to discover many things that they want in life.
Good research will examine the whole spectrum of criminology from religion to
politics, from perversion to morality, from social reality to social pathology, and from ethics
to evil. It will examine the causes, the spread, the meaning, and the impact of and the changes
in society caused by crime. It will observe and question treatment, modification,
rehabilitation, reparation, and medical programs. It will investigate police, legal, probation,
and parole administration. Research will inquire into:
a. The etiology of crime (the causes of criminal pathology)

b. The epidemiology of crime (the control of the spread of criminal Social dysfunction)
c. The administration of the criminal justice system, including the courts, the police and
corrections.
d. Therapy, behavior-modification, and reparation programs
e. Political and governmental systems
f. The social and cultural environment
g. Social change, trends, and progress in all these areas.
Criminology and criminal justice are social sciences. Criminology is the study of crime,
the science of crime and criminal behavior, the forms pf criminal behavior, the causes
of crime, the definition of criminality, and the societal reaction to crime. It is an
empirical social-behavioral science which investigates crime and criminals. In 1890s,
American Sociological association was founded. Prior to such formal organization,
independent researchers, both sociologists and criminologist, worked to explain various
forms of criminality and deviance. August Comte (France), Herbert Spencer (England),
Cesare Lombroso (Italy), Cesare Beccaria (Italy), Emile Durkheim (France), and many of
their contemporaries were prolific writers and analysts during in 1800s. Their writings
formed the foundations of social science and criminology today.
According to Hubert M. Blalock, before beginning research, it is essential to define the

discipline itself. Social science is a systematic explanation of social phenomena. Criminology
as a discipline is one part of the social-science spectrum. This becomes more apparent in the
definition of criminology. The following definitions give some idea of its scope.
Sutherland and Cressey have defined Criminology as the body of knowledge

regarding delinquency and crime as a social phenomena. It includes within its scope
the process of making laws, of breaking laws, and the reacting toward the breaking of
laws.
These processes are three aspects, of a somewhat unified sequence of interactions.

Certain acts which are regarded as undesirable are defined by the political society as crimes.
In spite of the definition, some people persist in the behavior and thus commit crimes; the
political society reacts by punishment, treatment, or prevention. This sequence of
interactions is the subject matter of criminology.
Research is basis why people improved in their way of living. The way they talk, walk,
and eat. It is a basis why people behave and react to the situation. It is the basis why parents
had been sending their children to school, to learn, to advance and to discover many things
that they want in life.
How do you define Research?
From the old French word cerchier, which means to “seek or search.”
“Search” = investigate
prefix “re” means “again”
research is “to investigate again.”
Good p. 464, defines Research as a "careful, critical, disciplined inquiry, varying in

technique and method according to the nature and conditions of the problem identified,
directed toward the clarification or resolution (or both) of a problem.
Aquino p. 1 defined Research as simply, the systematic search for pertinent

information on a specific topic or problem. After a careful, systematic search for pertinent
information or data on a specific topic or problem, and after the research worker has
analyzed and interpreted the data, he eventually faces another essential task- that of
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preparing the research report.
Research has been defined as "the process of gathering data or information to solve a
particular problem in a scientific manner (Manuel and Medel p.5)
Panel defines research as "systematic study or investigation of something for the

purpose of answering questions posed by researcher.
Treece and Treece p.3 commented that "research in its broadest sense is an attempt
to gain solutions to problems. More precisely, it is the collection of data in a rigorous
controlled situation for the purpose of prediction or explanation.
Example of this statement is: People who own handguns commit murder; murder
rates would decline if civilians were deprived of handguns. Without reflecting on the issues
involved, we can see from this statement that certain facts, if ascertainable would clarify the
relationships. For instance, the statement, can be read, "Ownership of handguns causes
murders to occur", that is "A causes B", or "B is the effect of A".
Both A and B are identified as variables. Their position in the cause-and-effect chain
determines their status. The causal variable (in this case, A or gun ownership) is known as
the independent variables; the effect variables (B, murders) is the dependent variable. We
can now test the relationship between A and B, between murders committed and murderers
who own handguns.
Why is research important to humankind?
Formulated in a more comprehensive form, research may be defined as a purposive,

systematic and scientific process of gathering analyzing, classifying, organizing, presenting,
and interpreting data for the solution of a problem, for prediction, for invention, for the
discovery of truth, or for the expansion or verification of existing knowledge, all for the
preservation and improvement of the quality of human life.
What are the purposes and goals of research?
According to Jose F. Calderon & Expectacion C. Gonzales in their book entitled

"Method of Research and Thesis Writing" the definition of research is purposive.
The main or principal purpose and goal of research is the preservation and
improvement of the quality of human life. All kinds of research are directed toward this end.
"The purpose of research is to serve man," and "The goal of research is the good life." (Good
and Scates,) Due to research, man has attained great accelerating progress and is enjoying
the products of research such as the fast and comfortable land, sea, and air means of
transportation, the wonders of electricity like the radio, telephone, air conditioning, light in
the homes, movies, running machinery for industry, the computer, mobile phones, the potent
drugs that promote health and prolong life, and many other countless things. "To satisfy
man's craving for more understanding, to improve his judgment, to add to his power, to
reduce the burden of work, to relieve suffering, and to increase satisfactions in multitudinous
ways-these are the large and fundamental goals of research (Good and Scates, p.15).
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1. To discover new facts about known phenomena. (Alcohol is a known phenomenon
and research may turn it into a kind of fuel equal in quality to gasoline)
2. To find answers to problems which are only partially solved by existing methods
and information. (Cancer is a serious disease which is only partially cured by present
methods but due to intensive and continuous research, the disease may be eradicated
later on).
3. Improve existing techniques and develop new instruments or products. (This
goal envisages the invention of new gadgets and machines, food products and others
used by man)
4. To discover previously unrecognized substances or elements. (Previously we
had only 92 elements but due to research we now have more than 100).
5. Discover pathways of action of known substances and elements (Due to research
we come to know the dangers from the abusive use of unprescribed drugs and some
poisonous substances).
These are suggested by French (Treece and Treece, Jr., p. 5) and the statements enclosed
in parentheses are examples by the author.
6. To order related, valid generalizations into systematized science. Schlotfeldt (Ibid)

(The result of this purpose of research is the science we are now Studying in school).
7. To provide basis for decision-making in business, industry, education, government,
and in other undertakings. One approach in decision-making is the research
approach. (Gore and Dyson, p.65). (This is basing important decision upon the results
of research).
8. To satisfy the researcher's curiosity. (Sanchez, p.3) (Edison was curious about how a
hen hatches her eggs and made a research on that and he invented the incubator.)
9. To find answers to queries by means of scientific methods. One important question
that may be asked which can be answered only by means of research is: In what
setting is life expectancy higher, in the city or in the barrio?
10. To acquire a better and deeper understanding about one phenomenon that can be
known and understood better by research is why women are generally smaller than
men.
11. To expand or verify existing knowledge. This usually happens when researches are
replicated. Newly discovered facts may be found to expand knowledge gained from a
previous research or verified if the same facts are found. In relation to Purposes Nos.2
& Nos.3, the following may be added to the list of purposes.
12. To improve educational practices for raising the quality of school products. Research
surveys often result in the revision of curricula and instructional innovations to
maximize the effectiveness of the learning process.
13. To promote health and prolong life. This purpose is very obviously demonstrated in
pharmaceutical, nutritional, and medical research.
14. To provide man with more of his needs-more and better food, clothing, shelter, etc.
The work of the International Rice Research institute in Los Baños, Laguna is good
example of this purpose.
15. To make work, travel, and communication faster, easier, and more comfortable. Due
to research airplanes are made to fly faster, land vehicles to run faster, labor-saving
machines have been invented and improved, radio and television bring news
immediately to the remote areas, and more wonders of electricity are making life
easier and better.
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Reference:
Foronda, Mercedes A. (2012). Criminological Research and Statistics.
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Criminological Research and Statistics

Research is a key to progress. There can be no progress without research in this

a. The etiology of crime (the causes of criminal pathology)

According to Hubert M. Blalock, before beginning research, it is essential to define the

Sutherland and Cressey have defined Criminology as the body of knowledge

These processes are three aspects, of a somewhat unified sequence of interactions.

How do you define Research?

Good p. 464, defines Research as a "careful, critical, disciplined inquiry, varying in

Aquino p. 1 defined Research as simply, the systematic search for pertinent

Panel defines research as "systematic study or investigation of something for the

Why is research important to humankind?

Formulated in a more comprehensive form, research may be defined as a purposive,

What are the purposes and goals of research?

According to Jose F. Calderon & Expectacion C. Gonzales in their book entitled

6. To order related, valid generalizations into systematized science. Schlotfeldt (Ibid)

Foronda, Mercedes A. (2012). Criminological Research and Statistics.

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