Deck 8: Unobtrusive Measures, Secondary Analysis, and the Uses of Official Statistics

Question 1

The analysis of available data can be considered a type of unobtrusive measure.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

One way of avoiding problems of unobtrusive measurement in the field is through the use of simulations.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The "Dayton Water Survey" involved a mail questionnaire to water users.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The "hatching chick exhibit" example was used in order to illustrate physical trace analysis.

Question 5

A thorough literature review, although important, is secon dary to the actual gathering of primary data.

Question 6

Data archives contain primary sources or raw data which are available to researchers for reanalysis.

Question 7

"Post hoc error" refers to the false assumption that, since one variable or outcome follows another in time, it is the cause of that outcome.

Question 8

The use of the Uniform Crime Reports in the analysis of crime trends serves as an example of secondary analysis.

Question 9

Due to inaccuracies historical documents are not very useful sources for criminal justice researchers.

Question 10

The best test of the usefulness of a content analysis scheme is its replicability.

Question 11

Secondary analysis involves the systematic classification of the content of mass media.

Question 12

Since most data gathered by agencies for official purposes are, for the most part, "fudged" they are not very useful for research purposes.

Question 13

Confederates refer to those who intrude and eventually de stroy one's ability to perform an unobtrusive study.

Question 14

Confederates are informants who are unaware of treatment.

Question 15

Mechanical aids should generally be avoided in unobtrusive measurement.

Question 16

There is general agreement among criminologists that dis guised observation is unethical.

Question 17

Simulation involves the transfer of observations into numerical scores.

Question 18

Those doing unobtrusive measures cannot do much to control the problem of waiting lengthy periods of time in order to observe that which they wish to observe.

Question 19

Criminal justice researchers enjoy the same state?granted right to confidentiality as doctors and clergy.

Question 20

Computer searches use a computer's retrieval system to search its data bank for sources which a user identifies by means of key words.

Question 21

Meta?analysis involves examining multiple studies and summarizing and comparing their statistical results.

Question 22

A mock trial is an example of a simulation.

Question 23

Which of the following was not identified as an advantage of unobtrusive measures?

A) nonreactivity
B) superior to experiments
C) more natural d avoids overreliance on attitudinal data

Question 24

The National Archive of Criminal Justice Data is an electronic library of primary data.

Question 25

High inter-rater reliability is essential for the integrity of a content analysis.

Question 26

Meta?analysis is simply another term for a literature review.

Question 27

Offender?based transaction statistics begin with finger printing and end when the case is dismissed or the arrested person is acquitted, convicted, or sentenced.

Question 28

Historical data and archives are excellent sources for unobtrusive measurement.

Question 29

The "Dayton Water Survey" was an example of an unobtrusive measure.

Question 30

Meta?analysis involves summing and synthesizing results across multiple separate studies to produce cumulative conclusions.

Question 31

Simulation involves games or research strategies which mimic reality.

Question 32

Mechanical aids can enhance unobtrusive measurement.

Question 33

Automated pin mapping uses geographic information systems in order to identify locations of crime events, arrests and similar activities.

Question 34

Which of the following is not a type of unobtrusive measurement?

A) content analysis
B) secondary analysis
C) factor analysis
D) physical trace analysis

Question 35

The use of confederates in disguised observation refers to:

A) studying renegades or criminals
B) using control groups
C) employing plants in order to facilitate that which is to be observed
D) using multivariate designs

Question 36

Which of the following is not an advantage of unobtrusive measurement?

A) avoids privacy invasion
B) nonreactivity
C) more natural method
D) avoids overreliance upon attitudinal data

Question 37

Which of the following is not true of simulations?

A) are an example of unobtrusive measures
B) attempt to mimic or imitate key features of reality
C) may pose ethical problems
D) are generally immoral and thus unacceptable in criminal justice research

Question 38

Confederates can be used in unobtrusive measurement to speed up the action.

Question 39

Secondary analysis involves the reanalysis of data which has already been gathered by someone else.

Question 40

There is not general agreement among criminologists that disguised observation is unethical.

Question 41

Which is not true of unobtrusive measures?

A) natural
B) nonreactive
C) guaranteed confidentiality
D) less dependent upon verbal reports

Question 42

The reanalysis of data previously gathered by someone else is a description of:

A) factor analysis
B) probit analysis
C) content analysis
D) secondary analysis

Question 43

is the systematic classification and study of the content of mass media.

Question 44

Hagan's study of authors' definitions of organized crime represents an example of:

A) secondary analysis
B) meta analysis
C) content analysis
D) factor analysis

Question 45

entails a variety of gaming strategies that attempt to imitate a more complex social reality.

Question 46

The application of empirical social scientific methods to the analysis of history is called:

A) histograms
B) historiography
C) factor analysis
D) causal analysis

Question 47

In contrast to primary sources, secondary sources are:

A) unanalyzed, raw data
B) government reports
C) data gathered by others
D) previously analyzed and evaluated information

Question 48

Which of the following was not discussed as a type of unobtrusive method?

A) case studies
B) simple observation
C) disguised observation
D) simulation

Question 49

A statistical analysis of data from many different studies dealing with the same research question to determine general findings describes:

A) factor analysis
B) physical trace analysis
C) meta?analysis
D) small space analysis

Question 50

The reanalysis of data which was originally gathered for other purposes or by other researchers is an example of:

A) content analysis
B) secondary analysis
C) small space analysis
D) physical trace analysis

Question 51

Humphreys' Tearoom Trade study involved:

A) physical trace analysis
B) disguised observation c simulation
D) secondary analysis

Question 52

is the study of deposits, accretion of matter, and other indirect substances produced by previous human interaction.

Question 53

A mock jury study would be an example of:

A) physical trace analysis
B) disguised observation
C) secondary analysis
D) simulation

Question 54

The subsequent explanation of the true purposes of deceptive research to participants is called:

A) debriefing
B) replication
C) recapitulation
D) meta-analysis

Question 55

are nonreactive methods of data gathering in which subjects are not aware of being studied.

Question 56

The examination of many studies in order to summarize and compare their statistical findings is an example of:

A) meta?analysis
B) content analysis
C) factor analysis
D) a literature review

Question 57

The major concern with respect to Milgram's Obedience to Authority was:

A) ethics
B) replication
C) accuracy
D) design

Question 58

Data archives are:

A) libraries which contain primary data sets
B) depositories for ancient artifacts
C) an example of physical trace analysis
D) used for literature reviews

Question 59

The Dayton Water Survey involved:

A) a self?report survey
B) simulation
C) participant observation
D) physical trace analysis

Question 60

involves the reanalysis of data that were previously gathered for other purposes.

Question 61

Some critics view disguised observation as privacy invasion. Do you agree/disagree with this view? Explain

Question 62

Discuss and give some examples of the major types of unobtrusive methods.

Question 63

Discuss the usefulness of simulations as data gathering strategies in criminal justice research.

Question 64

Define and give some examples of meta?analysis.How does it differ from what we ordinarily call a literature review?

Question 65

refers to quantitative analysis which reviews, combines, and summarizes the results of many different studies dealing with the same research question.

Question 66

is a technique developed by Stanley Milgram in which letters are addressed, stamped, but unposted and "lost," and the returns used to measure the popularity of organizations.

Question 67

collect felony arrest records from participating states and details such cases from booking to final disposition.

Question 68

What are the general advantages/disadvantages of unobtrusive measures as data gathering strategies?

Question 69

are persons who pretend to be subjects, but are really in on an experiment in order to "speed up the action."

Question 70

What are some limitations in doing secondary analysis of official data? Give some examples of criminal justice studies that have employed secondary analysis.

Question 71

observation is a type of research strategy in which the informed consent of subjects is not sought and researchers pretend to be part of the study group.

Question 72

What is content analysis? Give some examples of criminal justice research that has employed it.