Question 1

The best known and most widely cited source of official criminal statistics is known as:

Accepted Answer

The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) is the best known and most widely cited source of official criminal statistics in the United States, compiled by the FBI.

Question 2

Because cohort research is extremely difficult and time-consuming, another approach is to take an intact cohort from the past and collect data from their educational, family, police, and hospital records. This research format is known as a/an:

Accepted Answer

A retrospective cohort study involves looking back at historical data to study outcomes in a cohort that was established in the past.

Question 3

The combination of North and South American account for 31% of the world homicides ranking this area _________ worldwide.

Accepted Answer

North and South America accounting for 31% of the world's homicides ranks this area second worldwide, as other regions like Africa have higher homicide rates.

Question 4

About 2/3s of murders and 40% of robberies include firearms with the weapon of choice most often a:

Accepted Answer

Handguns are the most commonly used firearms in murders and robberies due to their availability, ease of concealment, and effectiveness.

Question 5

The 1972 landmark research by Wolfgang, Figlio, and Selling was titled ___________________

Accepted Answer

The answer of The 1972 landmark research by Wolfgang, Figlio,...

Question 6

Most crimes occur in July and August with the exception of murder which occurs frequently in

Accepted Answer

According to various studies and crime statistics, there is a notable increase in violent crimes, including murder, during the months of December and January, which have longer periods of darkness and potentially heightened financial stress during the holiday season.

Question 7

A research approach that asks participants, often prisoners, to describe their recent and lifetime criminal activity is termed:

Accepted Answer

A self-report survey is a research approach that asks participants to report on their own behaviors, beliefs, or attitudes. In the case of studying criminal activity, a self-report survey may be administered to prisoners or individuals who have engaged in criminal behavior. This approach allows for researchers to gather information directly from those who have engaged in criminal activity and can provide insight into the motivations and patterns of criminal behavior.

Question 8

Which of the following crimes has the highest clearance rate because of arrests?

Accepted Answer

Murder typically has the highest clearance rate because it is a serious crime that receives significant law enforcement resources and attention, leading to a higher likelihood of arrests.

Question 9

A person who repeatedly commits crime and whose life is centered around criminal activity is referred to as a ________________

Accepted Answer

The answer of A person who repeatedly commits crime and...

Question 10

When measured with UCR data, official statistics indicate that crime rates in inner cities and high poverty areas are generally _______________ compared to wealthier, higher class neighborhoods.

Accepted Answer

Crime rates in inner cities and high poverty areas are generally higher compared to wealthier, higher class neighborhoods according to UCR data.

Question 11

The Richmond, Virginia Police Department used ______ to identify and target locations associated with increased random gunfire during the previous year's New Year's Eve holiday in order to deploy police resources to those areas.

Accepted Answer

Data mining involves analyzing large datasets to identify patterns and trends, which can be used to target specific areas for police resource deployment.

Question 12

Part I crimes are also referred to as _____________ and include murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, and _____________.

Accepted Answer

Index crimes or Part I crimes include murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, and larceny. The other answer choices are incorrect as they either do not include all of the listed crimes or include additional crimes not classified as Part I crimes.

Question 13

If criminologists want to see the direct effect of one factor on another, such as determining whether playing violent video games will cause players to act aggressively, they conduct:

Accepted Answer

Experimental research is used to determine cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating one variable and observing the effect on another.

Question 14

Although differences between the UCR and the NCVS abound, the greatest distinction between the two is:

Accepted Answer

The NCVS (National Crime Victimization Survey) is designed to capture data on crimes that are not reported to the police, whereas the UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) program only includes crimes that have been reported to law enforcement.

Question 15

Observing a group of people who share a like characteristic, especially over time, is termed:

Accepted Answer

Cohort research involves observing a group of people who share a common characteristic or experience over an extended period of time. This type of research allows for the tracking of changes and development within the group. Sampling refers to selecting a representative subset of a larger population to study. Cross-sectional research involves comparing different groups at a single point in time. Meta-analysis is a method of analyzing data from multiple studies to draw conclusions about a particular research question.

Question 16

The assumption that those who commit deviant acts at a young age are more likely to offend as adults is referred to as ________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The assumption that those who commit deviant...

Question 17

According to statistics in the text, how many gang members are in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to statistics in the text, how...

Question 18

A controversial law in the state of ________________________ allows for law enforcement to stop or detain individuals they believe are in violation of immigration laws.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A controversial law in the state of...

Question 19

The fact that low rates of offending are noticeable with females because of the idea that the criminal justice system treats them lightly is referred to as the _____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The fact that low rates of offending...

Question 20

Which of the following best portrays the validity concern/s which impact data collection methods for the UCR?

Accepted Answer

The validity concerns impacting data collection methods for the UCR include reporting practices, methodological problems, and law enforcement practices. These factors can lead to underreporting, inconsistencies, and biases in the data collected.

Quiz 2: The Nature and Extent of Crime