Question 1

The U.S. Census Bureau has conducted the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) since 1972, the longest continuous crime survey in the world.

Accepted Answer

This is true because the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) since 1972, the longest continuous crime survey in the world. There is no other survey in the survey in the world that has collected data on victims for this long.

Question 2

Generally measurement is the most important and difficult phase of criminal justice research. It is difficult, in part, because many basic concepts in criminal justice are difficult to define specifically. Without being able to agree on a conceptual definition, operationalizing and measuring concepts is _____.

Accepted Answer

A. This is an incorrect answer because measurement is the most important and difficult phase of criminal justice research because many basic concepts in criminal justice are difficult to define specifically. Without specific conceptual definition, operationalizing and measuring concepts is challenging not monotonous.
B. This is an incorrect answer because measurement is the most important and difficult phase of criminal justice research because many basic concepts in criminal justice are difficult to define specifically. Without specific conceptual definition, operationalizing and measuring concepts is challenging not tedious.
C. This is an incorrect answer because measurement is the most important and difficult phase of criminal justice research because many basic concepts in criminal justice are difficult to define specifically. Without specific conceptual definition, operationalizing and measuring concepts is challenging not routine.
D. The correct answer is "D" because measurement is the most important and difficult phase of criminal justice research because many basic concepts in criminal justice are difficult to define specifically. Without specific conceptual definition, operationalizing and measuring concepts is challenging.

Question 3

Measurements can be made with varying degrees of precision, which refers to the fineness of the distinctions made between the attributes that compose a variable. The key standards for measurement quality are _____.

Accepted Answer

The key standards for measurement quality are reliability and validity. Reliability refers to the consistency of measurement results over time and across different tools or observers, while validity refers to the accuracy and relevance of the measurements to the research question or hypothesis being tested. Timeliness and consistency are important aspects of measurement quality as well, but they are subsumed under the broader concepts of reliability and validity. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

Question 4

Variables represent different levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Levels of measurement tell us what sorts of information we can gain from the scores assigned to the _____.

Accepted Answer

A. The correct answer is "A" because levels of measurement tell us what sorts of information we can gain from the scores assigned to values of the variables. For example, the nominal measures can only give us information about exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness. These measures cannot be logically ordered. The distance between one and the other values of the nominal measures cannot be precisely measured. Ordinal variables can be logically ordered.
B. This is incorrect because levels of measurement tell us what sorts of information we can gain from the scores assigned to values of the variables not the categories of the level of measurement.
C. This is incorrect because levels of measurement tell us what sorts of information we can gain from the scores assigned to values of the variables not the categories of the level of measurement not the attributes of a concept.
D. This is incorrect because levels of measurement tell us what sorts of information we can gain from the scores assigned to values of the variables not the categories of the level of measurement, not the conceptual measures of research

Question 5

The design and execution of criminal justice research require that the confusion over concepts and reality is removed. The logicians and scientists have found it useful to distinguish three kinds of definitions: real, conceptual________________________.

Accepted Answer

A. This is an incorrect answer because the design and execution of criminal justice research require that the confusion over concepts and reality is removed. The logicians and scientists have found it useful to distinguish three kinds of definitions: real, conceptual and operational. Essential is the same as real.
B. This is an incorrect answer because the design and execution of criminal justice research require that the confusion over concepts and reality is removed. The logicians and scientists have found it useful to distinguish three kinds of definitions: real, conceptual and operational. Creative is not the same as operational.
C. The correct answer is "C" because the design and execution of criminal justice research require that the confusion over concepts and reality is removed. The logicians and scientists have found it useful to distinguish three kinds of definitions: real, conceptual, and operational.
D. This is an incorrect answer because the design and execution of criminal justice research require that the confusion over concepts and reality is removed. The logicians and scientists have found it useful to distinguish three kinds of definitions: real, conceptual and operational. Specific is not the same as operational.

Question 6

Every variable should have an important attribute of being exhaustive. For the variable to be useful in research, researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one of the attributes composing the variable. Being exhaustive means that the researcher should be able to classify _____.

Accepted Answer

A. The correct answer is "A" because for a variable to be useful in research, researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one of the attributes composing the variable. Being exhaustive means that the researcher should be able to classify each and every possible observation.
B. This is an incorrect answer because for a variable to be useful in research, researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one of the attributes composing the variable. Being exhaustive means that the researcher should be able to classify each and every possible observation, not just each and every desirable observation.
C. This is an incorrect answer because for a variable to be useful in research, researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one of the attributes composing the variable. Being exhaustive means that the researcher should be able to classify each and every possible observation, not just each and every needed observation
D. This is an incorrect answer because for a variable to be useful in research, researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one of the attributes composing the variable. Being exhaustive means that the researcher should be able to classify each and every possible observation, not just each and every certified observation.

Question 7

Variables attributes that have only the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness are _____. These measures can not be logically ordered. The distance between one and the other values of the variables can not be precisely measured.

Accepted Answer

A. This is incorrect because nominal measures have only the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness. These measures cannot be logically ordered. The distance between one and the other values of the nominal measures cannot be precisely measured. Ordinal measures can be logically ordered.
B. The correct answer is "B" because nominal measures have only the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness. These measures cannot be logically ordered. The distance between one and the other values of the nominal measures cannot be precisely measured. Ordinal variables can be logically ordered.
C. This is incorrect because nominal measures have only the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness. These measures cannot be logically ordered. The distance between one and the other values of the nominal measures cannot be precisely measured. Interval and ratio measures can be logically ordered and distance can be precisely measured.
D. This is incorrect because nominal measures have only the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness. These measures cannot be logically ordered. The distance between one and the other values of the nominal measures cannot be precisely measured. Independent variables are variables not measures.

Question 8

Day-to-day communication is made possible through general but often vague and unspoken agreements about the use of terms. This leads to imprecision and misunderstandings. ______ is the process by which we specify precisely what we mean when we use particular terms.

Accepted Answer

A. This is an incorrect answer because conceptions are subjective and cannot be communicated directly, we use the words and symbols of language as a way of communicating about our conceptions and the things we observe that are related to those conceptions.
B. This is an incorrect answer because concepts are the words or symbols in language that we use to represent mental images.
C. This incorrect answer because the ecological fallacy occurs when we make assertions about individuals as the unit of analysis based on the examination of groups.
D. The correct answer is "D" because conceptualization is the process by which we specify precisely what we mean when we use particular terms.

Question 9

The words or symbols in language that we use to represent these mental images are called concepts. The concepts are used to communicate with one another, to share our mental images. Although a common language enables us to communicate, it is important to recognize that the words and phrases we use represent abstractions. Concepts are abstract because they are _____.

Accepted Answer

A. This is an incorrect answer because concepts are the words or symbols in language that we use to represent mental images. They are abstract because they are independent of the labels we assign to them. Not because they are dependent on them.
B. The correct answer is "B" because concepts are the words or symbols in language that we use to represent mental images. We use concepts to communicate with one another, to share our mental images. Although a common language enables us to communicate, it is important to recognize that the words and phrases we use represent abstractions. Concepts are abstract because they are independent of the labels we assign to them.
C. This is an incorrect answer because concepts are the words or symbols in language that we use to represent mental images. They are abstract because they are independent of the labels we assign to them.
D. This is an incorrect answer because concepts are the words or symbols in language that we use to represent mental images. They are abstract because they are independent of the labels we assign to them. They are not origins of the labels.

Question 10

Variables' attributes that have the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness, can be logically ordered and the distance between one and the other values of the variables can be precisely measured are _____.

Accepted Answer

A. This is incorrect because ordinal measures have the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness and these measures can be logically ordered. But the distance between one and the other values of the nominal measures cannot be precisely measured. Ordinal measures can be logically ordered.
B. This is incorrect because nominal measures have only the characteristics of exhaustiveness and mutual exclusiveness. These measures cannot be logically ordered. The distance between one and the other values of the nominal measures cannot be precisely measured.
C. The correct answer is "C" because interval and ratio measures can be logically ordered and distance can be precisely measured.
D. This is incorrect because independent variables are variables not measures.

Question 11

In a legal sense, victimless crimes do not exist because crimes are acts that injure society, organizations, or individuals.

Accepted Answer

This is true because all crimes, whether victims are obvious or not, are acts that injure society, organizations, or individuals. Thus society, organizations, or individuals are the victims.

Question 12

Specifications make up the operational definition of the concept-a definition that spells out precisely how the concept will be measured. In essence, an operational definition is a description of the operations undertaken in ______ a concept.

Accepted Answer

A. This is an incorrect answer because an operational definition is a description of the operations undertaken in measuring a concept not defining it.
B. This is an incorrect answer because an operational definition is a description of the operations undertaken in measuring a concept not creating it.
C. The correct answer is "C" because an operational definition is a description of the operations undertaken in measuring a concept.
D. This is an incorrect answer because an operational definition is a description of the operations undertaken in measuring a concept not designing it.

Question 13

Every variable must have the attribute of being mutually exclusive. Researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one and only one attribute. Being mutually exclusive means that each and every observation must fit in _____.

Accepted Answer

A. This is an incorrect answer because researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one and only one attribute. Being mutually exclusive means that each and every observation must fit in one and only one category, not every possible category.
B. This is an incorrect answer because The correct answer is "C" because researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one and only one attribute. Being mutually exclusive means that each and every observation must fit in one and only one category, not every desirable category.
C. The correct answer is "C" because researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one and only one attribute. Being mutually exclusive means that each and every observation must fit in one and only one category.
D. This is an incorrect answer because researchers must be able to classify every observation in terms of one and only one attribute. Being mutually exclusive means that each and every observation must fit in one and only one category, not every possible category.

Question 14

The most widely used measures of crime are not based on police records.

Accepted Answer

This is false because the most widely used measures of crime are based on police records and are commonly referred to as crimes known to police.

Question 15

Crimes involve four elements that are often easier to recognize in the abstract than they are to actually measure: offender, victim, offense, and incident. The most basic of these elements is the _____.

Accepted Answer

The offender is the most basic element of a crime, as it is the person who commits the offense.

Question 16

The end product of the conceptualization process is the _____ of what we have in mind, indicating the presence or absence of the concept we are studying.

Accepted Answer

A. The correct answer is "A" because specification of a set of indicators what a researcher is trying to study and measure indicates the presence or absence of the concept we are studying.
B. This is an incorrect answer because specification of a set of concepts will determine what a researcher is including in research while the specification of the indicators indicates the presence or absence of the concept we are studying.
C. This is an incorrect answer because specification of a set of observations will determine what a researcher is observing while the specification of the indicators indicates the presence or absence of the concept we are studying.
D. This is an incorrect answer because specification of a set of questions will determine what a researcher is including in research while the specification of the indicators indicates the presence or absence of the concept we are studying

Question 17

UCR summary data represent groups as units of analysis. Crime reports are available for cities or counties, and these may be aggregated upward to measure crime for states or regions of the United States.

Accepted Answer

This is false because status offenses such as truancy and curfew violations do not have identifiable victims who can be included in samples based on households.

Question 18

The specification of concepts in scientific inquiry depends instead on conceptual and operational definitions. A conceptual definition is a working definition specifically assigned to a term. When there is disagreement and confusion over what a term really means, the scientist specifies a working definition for the purposes of the inquiry. This definition is called _____.

Accepted Answer

A. This is an incorrect answer because a conceptual definition helps dispel disagreement and confusion over what a term really means. This helps the scientist specify a working definition for the purposes of the inquiry.
B. This is an incorrect answer because a conceptual definition helps dispel disagreement and confusion over what a term really means. This helps the scientist specify a working definition for the purposes of the inquiry.
C. This is an incorrect answer because a conceptual definition helps dispel disagreement and confusion over what a term really means. This helps the scientist specify a working definition for the purposes of the inquiry.
D. The correct answer is "D" because a conceptual definition helps dispel disagreement and confusion over what a term really means. This helps the scientist specify a working definition for the purposes of the inquiry.

Question 19

Reliability refers to the fact whether a particular measurement technique, applied repeatedly to the same thing, will yield the same result each time. In other words, measurement reliability is roughly the same as measurement _____.

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to consistency, as it suggests that the measurement technique will yield consistent results upon repetition. Validity refers to the accuracy of the measurement in reflecting what it is supposed to measure, precision refers to the degree of exactness of the measurement, and accuracy refers to how close the measurement is to the true or actual value. Therefore, B is the best choice as it accurately reflects the meaning of reliability.

Quiz 4: Section 2: Concepts, Operationalization, and Measurement