Deck 2: The Process and Problems of Criminological Research

Question 1

The first step in formulating a criminal justice research question is to _ it.2-2)

A)Refine
B)Identify
C)Evaluate
D)Determine its role in research

Answer 1

B

Question 2

One of the theoretical assumptions that arise from _ is that people's behavior is shaped by calculations of the costs and benefits of their actions.2-5)

A)Symbolic Interactionism
B)Rational Choice theory
C)Deterrence theory
D)None of the above

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The process of conducting research using the deductive process begins with __.

A)Hypotheses
B)Empirical generalizations
C)Data
D)Theory

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A logically interrelated set of propositions about empirical reality is a 2-5)

A)construct
B)mediating interaction
C)deterrent strategy
D)theory

Question 5

When a research study is conducted again using the same research methods to answer the same question to determine if the original findings occur again is called 2-10)

A)Repeatedness
B)Replication
C)Unnecessary
D)None of the above

Question 6

The variable that is hypothesized to cause or lead to variation in another variable is known as the _ variable.2-8)

A)Inductive
B)Independent
C)Deductive
D)Dependent

Question 7

Inductive reasoning often enters into deductive research when unexpected findings in the data are found.These unexpected patterns are called 2-11)

A)Systematic differences
B)Anomalous findings
C)Serendipitous findings
D)Both B and C

Question 8

Several different standards have been proposed as being uniquely suited to qualitative research, including ____ which means that it fairly reflects the perspectives of the participants in a study setting.2-18)

A)Generalizability
B)Causal Validity
C)Authenticity
D)All of the above

Question 9

Causal validity is also known as 2-15)

A)Face validity
B)Internal validity
C)Measurement validity
D)Content validity

Question 10

Sherman and Berk used which type of reasoning to conductive research described in the text on domestic violence? 2-9)

A)Deductive
B)Inductive
C)Both A and B
D)None of the above

Question 11

Research which proceeds from data collection to theorizing is 2-8)

A)Authentic
B)Constant
C)Inductive
D)Deductive

Question 12

Research that begins at the bottom of the research circle and works upward around the circle is 2-7)

A)Authentic
B)Constant
C)Inductive
D)Deductive

Question 13

Dr.Petranek is testing whether an individual's attitudes about homosexuality vary by frequency of attendance at religious services.The dependent variable is: 2-7)

A)Individual
B)Attitudes about homosexuality
C)Frequency of attendance at religious services
D)Inverse negative)

Question 14

Which of the following is one of the guidelines that are particularly useful to criminologists? 2-14)

A)Plan and carry out investigations systematically
B)Document all procedures and disclose them publicly
C)Replicate research and accumulate knowledge
D)All of the above

Question 15

____ reasoning begins from the general and moves to the specific.2-6)

A)Inductive
B)Generalizable
C)Deductive
D)Strategic

Question 16

Deductive theory begins with which element of the research circle? 2-7)

A)Social theory
B)Hypothesis testing
C)Empirical generalization
D)Descriptive research

Question 17

The two aspects of generalizability are sample generalizability and ____ generalizability.2-17)

A)Internal
B)Cross-Population
C)Causal
D)Measurement

Question 18

According to the text, King, Keohane, and Verba 1994)assert that social scientists evaluate research questions based on which of the following? 2-3)

A)Feasibility
B)Social importance
C)Scientific relevance
D)All of the above are criteria for social research questions

Question 19

"If self-control is higher, then the number of delinquent acts is lower" is an): 2-7)

A)Independent variable
B)Dependent variable
C)Feminist conjecture
D)Hypothesis

Question 20

In a review of the average teacher salaries across school districts, Ms.Godfrey found a range from $35,000 to $65,000, with teachers in urban school districts generally earning more than those in rural and suburban school districts.Ms.Godfrey has done what: 2-8)

A)Made an empirical generalization
B)Constructed a theory
C)Tested a theory
D)All of the above

Question 21

____ 2.Measurement validity exists when a conclusion that A leads to or results in B is correct.2-16)

Question 22

The generalizability of a study is the 2-17)

A)Information about the persons, places, or events in our study
B)Usefulness a current study can provide in discovering how to better serve our clients
C)Extent to which it can be used to inform us about persons, places, or events that were not studied
D)None of the above

Question 23

____ 5.Theories help criminologists make predictions about the criminological world.2-4)

Question 24

____ 7.A prediction of rational choice theory about the effect of arrest for domestic assault)could be that an abusing spouse, having seen the costs of abuse namely arrest)may abuse more often.2-6)

Question 25

Which of the guidelines for conducting research deals with the goal of elaborating on individual cases to understand the social patterns that characterize many individuals? 2-14)

A)Maintaining a skeptical stance toward current knowledge
B)The search for regularities or patterns
C)Testing ideas against empirical reality without become personally invested in a particular outcome
D)Documentation of all procedures and disclosing them publicly

Question 26

The type of validity that is achieved when a measure measures what it is presumed to measure is 2-15)

A)Presumption validity
B)Measurement validity
C)Achievement validity
D)All of the above are correct

Question 27

____ 8.Inductive reasoning is the most often used strategy used in quantitative methods.2-6)

Question 28

In general, we have reached the goal of validity when our statements or conclusions about 2-15)

A)empirical replications are good
B)empirical reality are correct
C)research is substantially correct
D)invalid knowledge about the world is correct

Question 29

____ 1.A prediction that is falsifiable means that it is capable of being proven wrong; that is, having the capacity to be empirically tested and falsified.2-5)

Question 30

Which of these exists when the understanding of a social process or social setting is one that reflects the perspectives of the participants in the setting?2-18)

A)Fairness
B)Exthenticity
C)Independence
D)Authenticity

Question 31

____ 10.Regardless of the research method utilized, the researcher should clarify assumptions in the research.2-14)

Question 32

Inductive reasoning often enters into deductive research when we find 2-11)

A)Systematic patterns
B)Unexpected patterns
C)Hypothetical patterns
D)Implemented patterns

Question 33

In the Domestic Violence Experiment described in your text, it is argued that the research circle is really an)2-11)

A)Anomalous pattern
B)Research spiral
C)Research discrepancy
D)Research replication

Question 34

____ 4.The second stage of selecting a criminological research question is that the topic should be important to the discipline or for public policy.2-3)

Question 35

____ 3.When evaluating a criminological research question, one should evaluate it based on three criteria: feasibility, social importance and scientific relevance.2-3)

Question 36

Which of the following aspect of validity is the same as causal validity? 2-15)

A)External validity
B)Intrinsic validity
C)Internal validity
D)Extrinsic validity

Question 37

Phase 4 of the Sherman and Berk 1984)study regarding intimate partner violence was 2-12)

A)Conducting deductive research
B)Adding deductive reasoning to inductive research
C)Adding explanatory deductive research to the process
D)Adding exploration to try to make sense of the social phenomenon

Question 38

____ 6.It is not important that a theory be testable, or what's known as falsifiable, as long as it is interesting to the discipline.2-5)

Question 39

____ 9.A social scientist should document all procedures in research, and disclose them publicly.2-14)

Question 40

Cross-population validity can also be referred to as 2-17)

A)Sample generalizability
B)Internal population validity
C)External validity
D)Causal validity

Question 41

____ 12.Causal validity is also known as external validity.2-15)

Question 42

Explain how the research circle is really a research spiral.2-11)

Question 43

____ 13.Sample generalizability exists when a conclusion based on the subset of a larger population holds true for the general population.2-17)

Question 44

What is the difference between an independent and dependent variable? 2-8)

Question 45

Describe the difference between a research question and a research hypothesis.2-7)

Question 46

____ 18.Scientists must be concerned with three aspects of validity, one of which is measurement validity.2-15)

Question 47

What is the difference between validity and generalizability?

Question 48

According to King, Keohane and Verba 1994), what are the three criteria for good social research questions? 2-3)

Question 49

____ 17.Social researchers must plan and carry out investigations systematically.2-14)

Question 50

____ 14.Patterns in data are summarized as empirical generalizations.2-8)

Question 51

What is the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning? 2-6)

Question 52

Name and describe the two types of generalizability described in the textbook.2-17)

Question 53

Diagram and describe the Research Circle.2-7)

Question 54

What does measurement validity tell us? 2-16)

Question 55

____ 15.A specific implication deduced from the more general theory is known as a constant.2-7)

Question 56

____ 20.Criminological researchers can find many questions to study, but not all questions are equally worthy.2-18)

Question 57

____ 16.The first phase of Sherman and Berk's 1984)study was designed to induce a general explanation to account for the data.2-10)

Question 58

What are the three stages in formulating a criminological research question? 2-3)

Question 59

____ 19.Authenticity exists when the understanding of a social process or social setting is one that reflects fairly the various perspectives of participants in the setting.2-18)

Question 60

____ 11.A general skepticism about current knowledge stimulates researchers to improve validity of current research results.2-14)

Question 61

What does it mean to say that the researcher has achieved Authenticity with his/her research? 2-18)