Test Bank For Criminology Today An Integrative Introduction 6th Edition by Schmalleger

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 28

Test Bank for Criminology Today An

Integrative Introduction 6th Edition by


Schmalleger
Full download chapter at: https://testbankbell.com/product/test-bank-for-
criminology-today-an-integrative-introduction-6th-edition-by-schmalleger/

Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction, 9e (Schmalleger)


Chapter 2 Where Do Theories Come From?

2.1 Multiple Choice Questions

1) The "evidence" in evidence-based criminology refers to


A) information obtained from witnesses to the crime.
B) fingerprints found at the crime scene.
C) experimental scientific findings.
D) social discussions.
Answer: C
Page Ref: 29
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Intermediate

2) Evidence-based criminology is based upon which research method?


A) Randomized, controlled experiments
B) Case studies
C) Participant observation
D) Secondary analysis of data
Answer: A
Page Ref: 29
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Basic

3) The ideas of armchair criminologists achieve acclaim in all but which of the following ways?
A) The involvement of distinguished lecturers
B) Publication in prestigious essays
C) The systematic collection of related acts
D) The association of their ideas with institutions of higher learning
Answer: C
Page Ref: 30
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Intermediate
4) Which of the following is not a scientific endeavor?
A) Investigating the relationship between facts that have been gathered
B) Building a database of information
C) Investigating paranormal phenomena
D) Interrogating witnesses at a crime scene
Answer: D
Page Ref: 30
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Difficult

5) A(n) is a series of interrelated propositions which attempt to describe, explain,


predict, and ultimately control some class of events.
A) hypothesis
B) theory
C) variable
D) experiment
Answer: B
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Basic

6) The statement, "Breaking the cycle of poverty will reduce crime" is an example of a(n)
A) hypothesis.
B) theory.
C) social policy.
D) causal question.
Answer: A
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

7) Which of the following statements is an example of a theory?


A) Increasing job opportunities will reduce crime
B) Crime rates increased in the past year
C) Poverty is a root cause of illegal drug use
D) Requiring everyone to earn a high school degree will lead to a reduction in crime
Answer: C
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Difficult
8) Which of the following is not a use of theory in social scientific thinking?
A) Theories supply frameworks within which concepts and variables acquire special significance
B) Theories link studies together
C) Theories can be improved through hypothesis testing
D) Theories provide patterns for the interpretation of data
Answer: C
Page Ref: 32-33
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

9) research is undertaken simply for the sake of advancing scientific knowledge.


A) Applied
B) Pure
C) Primary
D) Secondary
Answer: B
Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic

10) What is the first step in any research?


A) Develop a research design
B) Review the findings
C) Choose a data collection technique
D) Identify a problem
Answer: D
Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic

11) is the process by which a concept is made measurable or a simple hypothesis is


turned into one that is testable.
A) Operationalization
B) Theory building
C) Variable development
D) Pure research
Answer: A
Page Ref: 34
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic
12) You are interested in determining whether allowing prison inmates to have televisions in
their cells will reduce violent behavior. You measure the rate of violence in the prison, install
televisions in all cells, and then measure the rate of violence again one month later to see if there
has been any change. What research design have you used?
A) A controlled experiment
B) A one-group pretest-posttest design
C) A quasi-experiment
D) A life history
Answer: B
Page Ref: 35
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

13) A(n) research design is particularly useful when some aspects of the social setting
are beyond the control of the researcher.
A) controlled experiment
B) one-group pretest-posttest
C) quasi-experimental
D) case study
Answer: C
Page Ref: 35-36
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

14) Which of the following threats to internal validity is an example of the problem of
experimental mortality?
A) During the implementation of a study on violence in a prison, the prison administrator is
replaced
B) During a study, subjects become tired and their response time is affected
C) During a study in which students interview prison inmates, a number of student interviewers
graduate and must be replaced
D) During a study comparing two groups of prison inmates, some of the members of one group
are released on parole
Answer: D
Page Ref: 36
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult
15) Which of the following threats to external validity is an example of the problem of reactive
effects of experiment arrangements?
A) A pretest was conducted that sensitized the subjects to the topic of the research, so that they
may have responded to the treatment differently than would individuals who did not go through
the pretest
B) Defendants in a county court are allowed to choose whether or not they would like to
participate in a study to determine the effectiveness of a new diversion program
C) Inmates in a prison are aware that they are part of a study on prison violence and modify their
behavior as a result of this awareness
D) Inmates in a prison are participating in two research studies and are simultaneously exposed
to two different experimental interventions
Answer: C
Page Ref: 37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

16) After the results of a large research study on police procedures were publicized, the
researchers were interested in determining whether the study had affected police policy. The
researcher telephoned big-city police departments and asked a series of questions about
department policies and procedures. This is an example of which data-gathering strategy?
A) Participant observation
B) Survey research
C) Case study
D) Secondary analysis
Answer: B
Page Ref: 38
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

17) You are interested in studying how prison inmates and correctional officers interact on a
daily basis. To do this, you get a job as a correctional officer in a state prison and work there for
several months. What data-gathering strategy are you employing here?
A) Participant observation
B) Survey research
C) Secondary analysis
D) Self-reporting
Answer: A
Page Ref: 39
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult
18) Which is the only data-gathering technique that does not produce new data?
A) Self-reporting
B) Secondary analysis
C) Case study
D) Survey research
Answer: B
Page Ref: 39-40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic

19) Because the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment had a major impact on police
policy, the National Institute of Justice decided to see if the same results would be found if the
study was conducted in other cities around the U.S. This is an example of the issue of
A) replicability.
B) intersubjectivity.
C) reactivity.
D) instrumentation.
Answer: A
Page Ref: 40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

20) Which of the following is an example of inferential statistics?


A) Standard deviation
B) Correlation
C) Median
D) Test of significance
Answer: D
Page Ref: 41-42
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

21) are techniques that produce measurable results which can be analyzed statistically.
A) Qualitative methods
B) Pure research methods
C) Quantitative methods
D) Participant observations
Answer: C
Page Ref: 42
Objective: What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods in social
sciences? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?
Level: Basic
22) treats numbers as having intrinsic scientific value.
A) Intersubjectivity
B) Pure research
C) Qualitative methodology
D) The mystique of quantity
Answer: D
Page Ref: 43
Objective: What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods in social
sciences? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?
Level: Basic

23) After research into the effectiveness of Project D.A.R.E. found that the program was
ineffective, publication of the research results was blocked. A representative of the National
Institute of Justice stated that they did not agree with one of the study's major findings. What
ethical issue applies here?
A) Protection of human subjects
B) Informed consent
C) Objectivity
D) Data confidentiality
Answer: C
Page Ref: 44
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Difficult

24) The ethical principle of means that research subjects are told about the nature of
the research and their role in it.
A) informed consent
B) data confidentiality
C) anonymity
D) objectivity
Answer: A
Page Ref: 44-45
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Basic

25) Which of the following is not a critical ethical issue for criminal justice researchers?
A) Data confidentiality
B) Protection of human subjects
C) Disclosure of research methods
D) Application of results to social policy
Answer: D
Page Ref: 44-45
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Intermediate
26) A(n) involves reviewing the results of other studies on a specific topic.
A) participant observation study
B) meta-analysis
C) survey
D) case study
Answer: B
Page Ref: 47
Objective: How do criminological research and experimental criminology impact social policy?
Level: Basic

27) In a research report, the is a brief summation of the findings of the report.
A) abstract
B) review of the existing literature
C) preface
D) analysis
Answer: A
Page Ref: 48
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Basic

28) Which of the following sections is not always included in a research report?
A) Appendixes
B) Findings and results
C) Analysis and discussion
D) References
Answer: A
Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

29) Where are criminologists most likely to publish their research?


A) Newspapers
B) Monographs
C) Professional journals
D) Wikipedia
Answer: C
Page Ref: 49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Basic
30) Which submission requirement tends to be the same for all professional refereed journals?
A) The style of the references
B) The method of submission
C) A prohibition on simultaneous submissions
D) The amount of the submission fee
Answer: C
Page Ref: 50
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

2.2 True/False Questions

1) The evidence used in evidence-based criminology is the same type of evidence that is used in
a criminal trial.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 29
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Basic

2) During the Golden Age of Theory, there was a systematic attempt to link criminological
research to theory.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 29
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Basic

3) Gathering facts is sufficient to offer a satisfactory explanation of crime.


Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 30
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Basic
4) The statement "Providing more educational opportunities to lower-income individuals will
reduce crime" is a hypothesis.
Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Difficult

5) A theory is tested by how well it describes and predicts reality.


Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

6) If you conduct applied research, you are not expecting your results to have any immediate,
practical application.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic

7) Problem identification often includes some basic statistical analyses.


Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 33-34
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

8) A one-group pretest-posttest research design eliminates all other possible explanations of


behavioral change.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 35
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic

9) You are conducting a simple one-group pretest-posttest research design in a police department
and between the pretest and posttest, the chief of police resigns. This event may produce a
confounding effect.
Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 35
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult
10) A rehabilitation program is tested in a California medium security prison and found to be
effective. The researchers want to know if the program will be effective in maximum security
prisons in Texas. This is a question of external validity.
Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 35
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

11) In the "participant as observer" strategy, the observer goes "undercover" and joins the group,
participating in their activities.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 39
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

12) The question, "Do you see what I see?" highlights the role of intersubjectivity in scientific
observation.
Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic

13) Findings from qualitative studies are expressed numerically.


Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 43
Objective: What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods in social
sciences? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?
Level: Basic

14) The best way to control the effects of biases is to be aware of them at the start of the
research.
Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 44
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Basic

15) During participant observation, the researcher's primary role becomes that of a member of
the group he or she is observing.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 45
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Intermediate

16) Politicians frequently consult with criminologist when developing new crime legislation.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 46
Objective: How do criminological research and experimental criminology impact social policy?
Level: Intermediate

17) A meta-analysis is a study of other studies.


Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 47
Objective: How do criminological research and experimental criminology impact social policy?
Level: Basic

18) It is not necessary for a researcher to present research limitations in the final research report.
Answer: FALSE
Page Ref: 49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Basic

19) Most refereed professional journals discourage simultaneous submissions.


Answer: TRUE
Page Ref: 50
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Basic

2.3 Fill in the Blank Questions

1) Evidence-based criminology is founded on the method.


Answer: experimental/scientific
Page Ref: 29
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Basic
2) The Golden Age of was a time when data on crime were gathered and evaluated

independent of any particular ideational framework.


Answer: Research
Page Ref: 30
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Basic
3) A(n) is an explanation that accounts for a set of facts and that can be tested by
further investigation.
Answer: hypothesis
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Basic

4) A(n) is tested by how well it describes and predicts reality.


Answer: theory
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Basic

5) Most criminological research today is intended to explore issues of .


Answer: causality
Page Ref: 34
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

6) Rival explanations or competing hypotheses are known as .


Answer: confounding effects
Page Ref: 35
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic

7) Properly selected control groups help criminology researchers eliminate threats to .


Answer: internal validity
Page Ref: 35-36
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

8) A case study focusing on a single subject is known as a .


Answer: life history
Page Ref: 38
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Basic
9) Because research subjects generally do not know that they are being studied, secondary
analysis is said to be .
Answer: nonreactive
Page Ref: 40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

10) research methods produce subjective results.


Answer: Qualitative
Page Ref: 43
Objective: What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods in social
sciences? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?
Level: Basic

11) such as researcher preconceptions and biases enter into all stages of the research
process.
Answer: Values
Page Ref: 44
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Basic

12) is a strategy used to overcome many ethical issues inherent in criminological


research by telling research subjects about the research and their role in it.
Answer: Informed consent
Page Ref: 44
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Basic

13) Ideally, criminological research should have an impact on politicians who formulate crime
control .
Answer: policy
Page Ref: 46
Objective: How do criminological research and experimental criminology impact social policy?
Level: Basic

14) In a research report, a discussion of relevant previous research is usually found in the section
.
Answer: review of existing literature
Page Ref: 48
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Basic
15) journals use peer reviewers to determine the quality of manuscripts submitted to
them.
Answer: Refereed
Page Ref: 59
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Basic
2.4 Matching Questions

Place the steps in the theory-building process in the proper order

A) Step 3
B) Step 1
C) Step 4
D) Step 7
E) Step 5
F) Step 6
G) Step 2

1) The Hypothesis is Tested


Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

2) A Correlation is Observed
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

3) A Theory is Proposed
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

4) Theory-Based Understanding is Achieved


Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

5) Questions are Raised about Causes


Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

6) A Theory-Based Hypothesis is Developed


Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate
7) Theory-Based Social Policies Result
Page Ref: 31
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Intermediate

Answers: 1) F 2) B 3) A 4) C 5) G 6) E 7) D

Match the type of research with its definition

A) Research based on scientific inquiry that is designed and carried out with practical
applications in mind
B) Research characterized by original and direct investigation
C) Research based on new evaluations of existing information that has been collected by other
researchers
D) Research undertaken simply for the sake of advancing scientific knowledge

8) Applied research
Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

9) Pure research
Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

10) Primary research


Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

11) Secondary research


Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

Answers: 8) A 9) D 10) B 11) C


Place the stages in the scientific research process in order

A) Step 2
B) Step 1
C) Step 3
D) Step 4

12) Review of findings


Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

13) Development of research design


Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

14) Problem identification


Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

15) Choice of data collection techniques


Page Ref: 33
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

Answers: 12) D 13) A 14) B 15) C


Identify the threats with the type of validity they threaten

A) External validity
B) Internal validity

16) Pretest effects


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

17) History
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

18) Reactivity
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

19) Self-selection
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

20) Maturation
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

21) Instrumentation
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

22) Experimenter bias


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate
23) Multiple-treatment interference
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

24) Statistical regression


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

25) Experimental mortality


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

Answers: 16) A 17) B 18) A 19) A 20) B 21) B 22) B 23) A 24) B 25) B
Match each threat to the validity of a research design with the appropriate example

A) A researcher conducts an experiment in a prison to determine the effect of a new treatment


program. During the experiment, a large number of the inmates in the control group are released
on parole, although no inmates in the experimental group are paroled during the course of the
study.
B) Prior to experiencing a treatment, subjects in a study take a pretest. This sensitizes them to the
topic of the study. They may react differently to the treatment than would subjects who did not
take the pretest first.
C) The researcher applies two different treatments to the experimental group in a research study.
D) During a large-scale study in which crime victims are interviewed, two interviewers resign
and must be replaced.
E) A researcher brings subjects into a lab to conduct a study. The subjects are aware that they are
being studied and may not behave normally.
F) Instead of randomly selecting students to participate in a study on campus, the researcher asks
students to volunteer. As a result, only students who are interested in the study participate.
G) A researcher conducts an experiment in an elementary school to determine the effectiveness
of an anti-drug education program. As there are an equal number of boys and girls in the school,
the researcher finds it easier to assign all the boys to the experimental group and all the girls to
the treatment group
H) While interviewing subjects during an experiment, the researcher does not treat the subjects
in the experimental and control group identically.
I) A researcher selects subjects based on their extreme scores on a personality test. When the
subjects are tested again later, their scores are less extreme.
J) During the process of a study, subjects become tired, affecting their responses
K) A specific event takes place between the first and second observations in a study that may
affect measurement.

26) Pretest effects


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

27) History
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

28) Reactivity
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult
29) Self-selection
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

30) Maturation
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

31) Instrumentation
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

32) Experimenter bias


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

33) Multiple-treatment interference


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

34) Statistical regression


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

35) Experimental mortality


Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult
36) Differential selection
Page Ref: 36-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult

Answers: 26) B 27) K 28) E 29) F 30) J 31) D 32) H 33) C 34) I 35) A 36) G
Match the data collection technique to its definition

A) Examining pre-existing data in new ways


B) The use of questionnaires to gather data
C) An in-depth investigation into a single subject or group
D) The researcher joins a group to gather data on the group's activities
E) Individuals are asked to keep a journal about their frequency of involvement in a specific
activity

37) Participant observation


Page Ref: 38-40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

38) Secondary analysis


Page Ref: 38-40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

39) Case studies


Page Ref: 38-40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

40) Surveys
Page Ref: 38-40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

41) Self-reporting
Page Ref: 38-40
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Intermediate

Answers: 37) D 38) A 39) C 40) B 41) E


Match the element of a research report to its features

A) A discussion of any shortcomings in the researcher so that readers may assess their impacts
on the reported results
B) Includes the names and professional affiliations of all authors
C) A brief summary of the report's findings
D) A discussion of relevant works of other researchers and prior research
E) Provides an overview of the methodology used by the researcher and explains how the
problem was investigated
F) A statement of what is being tested in the research study
G) Bibliography of all materials used in planning the study and preparing the research report

42) List of references


Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

43) Statement of hypothesis


Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

44) Review of existing literature


Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

45) Disclaimers/limitations
Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

46) Abstract
Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

47) Title page


Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate
48) Description of research plan
Page Ref: 48-49
Objective: What sections might a typical research report contain?
Level: Intermediate

Answers: 42) G 43) F 44) D 45) A 46) C 47) B 48) E

2.5 Essay Questions

1) Identify the four eras of criminology and discuss how they have influenced the current field of
criminology today.
Answer: Answers should define the four eras of criminology based on the textbook: the golden
age of research (1900-1930), the golden age of theory (1930-1960), the age of theory testing and
empirical methods (1960-2000), and the current era (21st century) that is heir to the first three.
Criminology has moved into the scientific or evidence-based criminology that we see today,
building off of the previous periods.
Page Ref: 29-30
Objective: What is the role of social scientific research methods in the development of
criminological theories? How does the meaning of the word evidence in evidence-based
criminology differ from the evidence found at a crime scene or the evidence used in criminal
trials?
Level: Intermediate

2) What is a theory? What is the role of theories in the field of criminology?


Answer: Responses should define theory, based on the description in the textbook, as a set of
interrelated propositions that attempt to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some
class of events. Answers should connect the role of theory building in the field as one that helps
construct models to allow for better understanding of criminal behavior, and in turn, better
development of social policies to reduce criminal behavior.
Page Ref: 30-33
Objective: What is a theory? What purposes do theories serve? What role do research and
experimentation play in theory building in criminology?
Level: Difficult

3) Define the two types of validity and explain some of the factors that may threaten validity in
research designs. How can threats to the two types of validity be addressed?
Answer: Answers should explain the two types of confounding effects, which may invalidate the
results of research — internal validity (limits to the certainty that the research interventions
caused observed changes in research findings) and external validity (factors limiting the ability
of researchers to generalize research findings to other settings). Responses should also list some
of the specific threats to internal and external validity listed in Figures 2-2 and 2-3 in the text.
Strategies to address these threats, such as control and randomization, should also be discussed.
Page Ref: 35-37
Objective: What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is internal
validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
Level: Difficult
2.6 Critical Thinking Questions

1) Explain how theory building develops in the field and contributes to social policy in
criminology. Please provide examples.
Answer: While examples will vary, all answers should accurately define theory according to the
textbook as a set of interrelated propositions that attempt to describe, explain, predict, and
ultimately control some class of events. All answers should explain a bit of the theory developing
process, including observations, theory/hypothesis development, evidence-based testing, and the
results leading up to social policy development. Answers should also discuss the importance of
and problems with ensuring that research results guide daily practice and social policy.
Page Ref: 30-33, 46-47, & others
Objective: Multiple
Level: Difficult

2) What are some of the values and ethics that criminologists must consider when conducting
research? How are they addressed?
Answer: Answers should address how criminologists work to prevent biases in research
conducted, data confidentiality, informed consent, and the overall protection of human subjects
in research. Some answers may include participation observation issues as well as building a
code of ethics for researchers in the field.
Page Ref: 44-45
Objective: What are some of the ethical considerations involved in conducting criminological
research?
Level: Intermediate

You might also like