Deck 1: Theory and Crime

Question 1

Spiritual explanations of crime deemed crime to be a phenomenon based on the Earth.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The modern-day penitentiary developed by the Quakers was based on the spiritual explanation of crime.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Theories make statements about the relationships between things that we can observe.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

When two things (e.g., grades and time spent studying) are vary together in a systematic manner, they are said to be correlated.

Question 5

A negative correlation is said to occur when, on average, one phenomenon increases and another phenomenon also increases.

Question 6

Theories that have a coherent explanation of why two or more things are related are said to have theoretical rationale.

Question 7

Theories help us explain the facts of crime.

Question 8

The behavior of criminal law explanation of crime suggests that people are driven to crime through opportunity.

Question 9

Structure/process theories suggest crime is due to individual factors such as biology and drug use.

Question 10

Theory testing helps researchers identify causes of crime with 100% certainty.

Question 11

Examples of punishments for crimes based on spiritual explanations include:

A) Compurgation
B) Trial by ordeal
C) Trial by battle
D) Drowning
E) All of the above

Question 12

Theories can be falsified by:

A) Using your best judgment to determine if the theory explains a behavior
B) Conducting a study, collecting observations, and comparing those observations to the arguments made in the theory
C) Flipping a coin to pick the most probable theoretical explanation
D) None of the above

Question 13

According to Bernard, Snipes, and Gerould, causation means four things are present. They are:

A) Testability, absence of spuriousness, variance, implication
B) Time sequence, correlation, absence of spuriousness, theoretical rationale
C) Observation, linearity, theoretical rationale, tautology
D) Justification, evidence that the theory is correct, time sequence, believability

Question 14

Causal relationships are statements of:

A) Probability
B) Relevance
C) Believability
D) Deference

Question 15

Bernard and his colleagues discuss three different ways of thinking about crime (i.e., assumptions about criminal behavior). Which one of the choices below is NOT one of the them?

A) Criminal behavior is a result of how laws are written and enforced
B) Criminal behavior is freely chosen
C) Criminal behavior is a natural phenomenon
D) Criminal behavior is beyond the control of individuals

Question 16

What are the three main categories of criminological theories?

A) Individual differences; structure/process; behavior of criminal law
B) Classical; positivist; moderate
C) Puritan; Quaker; subcultural
D) Social control; strain; deterrence

Question 17

Correlation means that two variables:

A) Are not related
B) Vary together in an unsystematic way
C) Vary together in a systematic way
D) Are causally related

Question 18

Criminology is the study of:

A) Explanations the facts of crime
B) How to present the facts of crime
C) Identifying criminal behaviors
D) Prosecuting crimes

Question 19

__________ criminology sees crime as determined by multiple causes and calls for attempts to turn people into law abiding citizens through rehabilitation.

A) Spiritual
B) Classical
C) Reformatory
D) Positivist

Question 20

Self-control theory states that higher levels of self-control are related to lower levels of delinquency. What type of relationship is expected between these two variables?

A) A negative correlation
B) A positive correlation
C) No correlation
D) Causation

Question 21

Spiritual explanations of criminal behavior in U.S. colonies were typical during the 1600-1700s. Describe the rationale behind this explanation of crime and outline the evolution over time to current explanations of criminal behavior.

Question 22

Quaker beliefs and practices are evident in the modern prison system. How were these beliefs and practices used in the development of the early penitentiary? What aspects of modern prisons can be traced to the Quaker era?

Question 23

Describe how theories can be falsified. Why is it important for theories to be falsifiable?

Question 24

Correlation and causation are often confused by students. First, define the two concepts: correlation and causation. Second, describe the use of correlation and causation in theory development and testing. Why are they important, what do they tell us about explanations of crime?

Question 25

Identify the four elements of meaningful scientific causation. How do they contribute to theoretical testing?

Question 26

Describe the following theoretical relationships, assuming two variables: positive correlation, negative correlation, no correlation.

Question 27

What was the penance system established by the Quakers in the U.S. in the early 1800s? How did this model influence modern day corrections?

Question 28

How do criminologists use scientific theories in their work? What benefits do scientific theories have over other explanations of crime?

Question 29

Some criminological theories focus on the characteristics of individuals to explain involvement in criminal behavior. Describe the role of probability in these explanations of crime.

Question 30

There are three main categories of theories described in the text: (1) individual; (2) structural/process; and (3) behavior of criminal law. Describe the tenets of each category and provide an example explanation of crime for each category.