Question 1

The observations of Burgess and Akers produced the first real insight into the process by which juveniles become members of criminal gangs. The objective of this research are:

Accepted Answer

The objective of Burgess and Akers' research was to fill gaps in the body of knowledge regarding juvenile delinquency and gang membership.

Question 2

The City of Bigton is having a problem with graffiti. The Mayor decides that the only logical way to reduce graffiti is to increase the penalty. The City Council agrees and increases the penalty. However, incidents of graffiti continue to increase. Which of the following alternatives to research is the Mayor using?

Accepted Answer

The Mayor is only using common sense in assuming that increasing the penalty will reduce incidents of graffiti without researching other alternative solutions.

Question 3

Compared to the physical sciences, like biology, chemistry, or physics, research methods in the social sciences, like criminal justice, sociology or economics, are:

Accepted Answer

Social concepts are often abstract and difficult to define and measure definitively, which makes research methods in the social sciences more challenging than those in the physical sciences. This does not mean that social scientists are not held to high standards of scientific rigor and accuracy.

Question 4

A researcher conducts recorded interviews with minors serving life sentences, which they later translate into a written transcript. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

Accepted Answer

The researcher is conducting recorded interviews and later translating them into a written transcript, which is the process of transcribing. This is not coding, memoing, or diagramming.

Question 5

A researcher develops a flow chart to illustrate the process by which men and women progress through a typical policing career. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

Accepted Answer

Diagramming involves visual representation of data or processes using symbols or boxes connected by arrows or lines. The flow chart developed by the researcher is an example of diagramming.

Question 6

A researcher reflects on how social workers influence the child protective custody process while reading through interview data. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

Accepted Answer

The technique being used is memoing, which involves the researcher reflecting on their own reactions and thoughts as they analyze the data. Transcribing involves producing a written record of the interviews, coding involves categorizing the data into themes, and diagramming involves creating visual representations of the data. None of these techniques involve the researcher reflecting on their own reactions and thoughts.

Question 7

A researcher reads through their observations of jury trials involving cases of rape to identify meaningful themes that arise from the data. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

Accepted Answer

Coding involves categorizing and analyzing data to identify patterns and themes, which is the technique being used in the given scenario. Transcribing involves creating a written record of spoken language or nonverbal behavior. Memoing involves writing a memo to record an idea or reflection about the data. Diagramming involves creating visual representations of data. While these techniques may be useful for analyzing qualitative data, they are not the primary technique being used in this scenario.

Question 8

The decision about which statistical technique to use for analyzing data depends on:

Accepted Answer

The statistical technique chosen should take into account both the level of measurement of the data and the type of hypothesis being tested. For example, if the data are measured on a nominal scale and the hypothesis is testing for a difference between two groups, a chi-squared test would be appropriate. In contrast, if the data are measured on a continuous scale and the hypothesis is testing for an association between two variables, a correlation or regression analysis might be more appropriate. Therefore, both factors should be considered when deciding which statistical technique to use.

Question 9

A statistical technique that is used to determine whether or not two or more groups are different with respect to a single variable measured at the interval or ratio level of measurement is:

Accepted Answer

An ANOVA (analysis of variance) is used to compare the means of two or more groups with respect to a single variable measured at the interval or ratio level of measurement. A t-test is used to compare two groups only, while a Pearson r is used to measure the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two continuous variables. Multiple regression is used to examine the relationship between one dependent variable and multiple independent variables. Therefore, the best choice for this scenario is an ANOVA.

Question 10

As a general rule, at what level do social scientists agree that a statistical result is not due to chance (i.e., statistical significance)?

Accepted Answer

The general rule in social sciences is to use a significance level of 0.05, which indicates that the result is not likely due to chance at a 95% confidence level.

Question 11

A state senator is making a speech before the legislature and declares, "Racial profiling is an epidemic throughout our state." When asked to provide proof of this statement, the senator points to a large folder full of newspaper and magazine articles on racial profiling. Which of the following alternatives to research is the state senator using?

Accepted Answer

The state senator is using media as evidence for their statement on racial profiling being an epidemic throughout the state. They are citing newspaper and magazine articles as support for their claim.

Question 12

Frustrated with the new intake process, a probation officer complains to her boss. "It just doesn't make sense." The supervisor encourages the probation officer to "give the new system a chance" because "after all, it was designed by the leading expert on juvenile probation in the nation." Which of the following alternatives to research is the supervisor using?

Accepted Answer

The supervisor is using authority as the alternative to research, relying on the reputation and expertise of the person who designed the new system rather than actual evidence of its effectiveness.

Question 13

You have been asked to make a presentation on a subject that you know very little about. What source(s) would you consult to obtain a general overview of the subject?

Accepted Answer

A book would be the best choice to obtain a general overview of the subject because it provides a more comprehensive and structured approach compared to a newspaper or a friend's knowledge. A scholarly journal may be too specialized and detailed for a general overview.

Question 14

Your professor has assigned a research paper. The references for this paper must come from "peer reviewed" research articles. Where would you most likely find these articles?

Accepted Answer

Peer reviewed research articles are typically published in scholarly journals, which undergo a rigorous review process by experts in the field. The local newspaper, a popular news magazine, and a television newscast are not likely to provide peer reviewed research articles.

Question 15

A program at a local high school is designed to reduce illegal drug use among adolescents. The school board has asked a researcher to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. What type of research is this?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of applied research. Applied research is designed to solve a specific problem or answer a practical question, in this case, evaluating the effectiveness of the drug prevention program.

Question 16

A researcher conducts research for the initial purpose of explaining the linkages between illegal drug use and risky sexual behaviors among adolescents. This researcher is merely interested in this topic and hopes to publish this research report in an academic journal. What type of research is this?

Accepted Answer

This research is pure research because the researcher is conducting research merely for the sake of gaining knowledge and understanding about a particular topic, without any specific practical application or goal in mind beyond the academic publication of the research report.

Question 17

The captain of the narcotics unit in a large metropolitan police department hears that prescription drug abuse is growing among juveniles in her city. She asks one of her lieutenants to conduct research to determine the extent of this new trend. Into which of the following research categories would this research project best fit?

Accepted Answer

Exploratory research is conducted to investigate an issue or a topic that is not well understood or is new, like the growing trend of prescription drug abuse among juveniles in this case. It aims to gain insights and familiarity for later, more detailed research.

Question 18

Recently, a dozen correctional officers were dismissed for participating in a drug and contraband smuggling conspiracy. The warden has asked a consultant to conduct research that would provide insight into why these officers were led to participate in this conspiracy. Into which of the following research categories would this research project best fit?

Accepted Answer

This research project would best fit into the explanatory category because it aims to provide insight into why the correctional officers participated in the conspiracy, which involves identifying underlying causes and factors that led to their behavior.

Question 19

The Chief Probation Officer has asked one of his assistants to conduct an analysis of the probationers under the supervision of the Probation Department. The Chief wants to know basic information that describes the "typical" probationer, such as age, gender, criminal history, and length of probation. Into which of the following research categories would this research project best fit?

Accepted Answer

This research project is focused on describing the characteristics of the probationers, making it a descriptive research project. The Chief is asking for basic information that will help paint a picture of the "typical" probationer.

Question 20

A recent proposal by the Bigton Police Department is to not dispatch officers to take stolen vehicle reports. Instead the vehicle owner would enter the appropriate information into an online system and get the case number needed to file an insurance claim. The City Manager rejects the proposal, arguing, "The good people of Bigton deserve a living and breathing police officer when they call one. That is just the way we've always done things around here." Which of the following alternatives to rese

Accepted Answer

The City Manager's rejection of the proposal is based on the traditional or customary way that things have been done in Bigton.

Quiz 14: Data and Information Analysis