Question 1

Theories of crime offer tentative answers not only to questions of what is but also to questions of what ought to be.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

Criminological theories have successfully identified factors that are both necessary and sufficient causes of crime.

Accepted Answer

Criminological theories have identified various factors that may contribute to crime, but no single factor has been proven to be both necessary and sufficient to cause crime.

Question 3

A useful theory of crime provides implications or guidelines for criminal justice policy, but one cannot directly test the theory from the success or failure of the policy.

Accepted Answer

A theory of crime can suggest policies, but the success or failure of a policy can be influenced by many factors beyond the theory itself, making it difficult to directly test the theory based solely on policy outcomes.

Question 4

A variable correlated with crime is necessarily a cause of crime.

Accepted Answer

Correlation does not imply causation; a variable correlated with crime may be related due to coincidence or a third factor influencing both.

Question 5

Theory and fact are inversely related: As criminologists uncover more facts about crime, there is less need for theory.

Accepted Answer

Theories help explain and interpret facts, and as more facts are uncovered, theories can be refined or developed to better understand the complexities of crime.

Question 6

A macro theory is one that explains behavior in terms of genetic, chemical, neurological, or physiological factors.

Accepted Answer

A macro theory explains behavior in terms of large-scale social processes and structures, not biological factors.

Question 7

Soft determinism is the concept that behavior is partly a matter of choice and partly a function of influences over which people have no control.

Accepted Answer

Soft determinism suggests that while human behavior is influenced by external and internal factors, individuals still have the capacity to make choices within those constraints.

Question 8

The probabilistic concept of causation suggests that human behavior is determined by external forces with little exercise of free will.

Accepted Answer

The probabilistic concept of causation suggests that events, including human behavior, are influenced by various factors with certain probabilities, but it does not necessarily negate the exercise of free will.

Question 9

Evaluation of the success or failure of a criminal justice program or policy based on a particular theory of crime is a good way to provide a direct test of that theory.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evaluation of the success or failure of...

Question 10

Sound policy and practice must be shown empirically to be effective in achieving stated goals such as reduction of recidivism.

Accepted Answer

Empirical evidence is necessary to demonstrate that a policy or practice effectively achieves its intended outcomes, such as reducing recidivism, by providing measurable and objective data.

Question 11

Probability concepts of cause and soft determinism fit explanations of criminal behavior better than do concepts of strict determinism and direct cause and effect.

Accepted Answer

Probability concepts and soft determinism allow for the consideration of multiple factors and influences on behavior, acknowledging that human actions are not solely determined by direct causes, which aligns better with the complex nature of criminal behavior.

Question 12

The adequacy of a theory can best be judged by the political or partisan ideologies of its proponents.

Accepted Answer

The adequacy of a theory is best judged by its empirical support, logical consistency, and explanatory power, not by the political or partisan ideologies of its proponents.

Question 13

In democratic society, a good criminal justice or crime prevention policy should not only be effective but also meet legal, ethical, and moral standards of fairness and due process.

Accepted Answer

A good criminal justice policy in a democratic society must balance effectiveness with adherence to legal, ethical, and moral standards to ensure fairness and protect individual rights.

Question 14

Traditional Causality requires that cause X must precede and produce effect Y.

Accepted Answer

Traditional causality dictates that for X to be considered a cause of Y, X must occur before Y and be responsible for bringing about Y.

Question 15

Causality is more applicable in social sciences than hard sciences.

Accepted Answer

Causality is applicable in both social sciences and hard sciences, but the methods and challenges of establishing causality can differ between the two fields.

Question 16

A theory is tautological if it:

Accepted Answer

A tautological theory is one that is true by definition, meaning it is self-evident and does not require empirical validation.

Question 17

Theories in criminology do all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Criminology theories typically focus on empirical and scientific explanations of crime, rather than religious or philosophical perspectives.

Question 18

According to Edwin Sutherland, criminology involves the study of:

Accepted Answer

Edwin Sutherland's definition of criminology includes understanding how conduct is defined as illegal, how laws are enforced, and why people violate laws, which corresponds to choices A, B, and C.

Question 19

"Macro" theories of criminal behavior focus on:

Accepted Answer

Macro theories of criminal behavior examine how societal or group-level factors, such as economic conditions, social structures, and cultural norms, influence crime rates.

Question 20

According to Akers and Sellers, the most important criterion for evaluating a theory is:

Accepted Answer

Empirical validity is considered the most important criterion because it assesses whether the theory is supported by empirical evidence and can accurately explain or predict phenomena.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Criminological Theory