A critique of social disorganization theory is that some of the studies tend to use group rates to explain individual crime. Aggregate statistics do not yield accurate estimates if the intended unit of analysis is the behavior of individuals. Consequently, researchers have committed a/an ______ fallacy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct term is "ecological fallacy," which occurs when conclusions about individual-level processes are drawn from group-level data, ignoring the fact that what holds true for groups may not hold true for individuals within those groups.

A Critique of Social Disorganization Theory Is That Some of the Studies