Question 1

Which of the following threats to internal validity is an example of the problem of experimental mortality?
A) During the implementation of a study on violence in a prison, the prison administrator is replaced
B) During a study, subjects become tired and their response time is affected
C) During a study in which students interview prison inmates, a number of student interviewers graduate and must be replaced
D) During a study comparing two groups of prison inmates, some of the members of one group are released on parole

Accepted Answer

Experimental mortality refers to loss of participants during the course of a study. In the given options, option D is an example of experimental mortality, as some members of one group are released on parole, leading to loss of participants. Option A is an example of a threat to internal validity due to history, as the replacement of prison administrator during the study may affect the study's results. Option B is an example of a threat to internal validity due to testing, as fatigue and learning effects may affect participants' responses. Option C is an example of a threat to internal validity due to selection, as replacement of interviewers may lead to changes in the characteristics of the sample.

Question 2

_____________ is the process by which a concept is made measurable or a simple hypothesis is turned into one that is testable.
A) Operationalization
B) Theory building
C) Variable development
D) Pure research

Accepted Answer

Operationalization refers to the process of defining concepts in a way that makes them measurable and observable. This involves breaking down abstract concepts into specific, measurable variables that can be tested through research. Theory building involves the development of new theories, while variable development is a component of operationalization. Pure research refers to research that is conducted without a specific practical goal in mind.

Question 3

Which of the following is not a scientific endeavor?
A) Investigating the relationship between facts that have been gathered
B) Building a database of information
C) Investigating paranormal phenomena
D) Interrogating witnesses at a crime scene

Accepted Answer

Scientific endeavors involve systematic investigation, experimentation, and the collection of data to understand natural phenomena. Interrogating witnesses at a crime scene, while important for legal and investigative purposes, does not follow the scientific method of inquiry and is therefore not considered a scientific endeavor.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is an example of a theory?
A) Increasing job opportunities will reduce crime
B) Crime rates increased in the past year
C) Poverty is a root cause of illegal drug use
D) Requiring everyone to earn a high school degree will lead to a reduction in crime

Accepted Answer

A theory is a well-supported explanation for a phenomenon. Option C is a well-supported explanation for illegal drug use, making it an example of a theory. Option A is a hypothesis as it makes a prediction about the relationship between job opportunities and crime but lacks evidence to support it. Option B is a statement of fact, not a theory. Option D is another hypothesis as it predicts a relationship between earning high school degrees and crime reduction but lacks evidence to support it.

Question 5

The statement, "Breaking the cycle of poverty will reduce crime" is an example of a(n)
A) hypothesis.
B) theory.
C) social policy.
D) causal question.

Accepted Answer

This statement proposes a cause-and-effect relationship, making it a hypothesis. It suggests that poverty is a contributing factor to crime and that addressing poverty can reduce the incidence of crime.

Question 6

Which is the only data-gathering technique that does not produce new data?
A) Self-reporting
B) Secondary analysis
C) Case study
D) Survey research

Accepted Answer

Secondary analysis involves re-analyzing existing data that have already been collected by someone else. Therefore, it does not generate new data. The other options involve collecting new data in some form or another.

Question 7

The ideas of armchair criminologists achieve acclaim in all but which of the following ways?
A) The involvement of distinguished lecturers
B) Publication in prestigious essays
C) The systematic collection of related acts
D) The association of their ideas with institutions of higher learning

Accepted Answer

The systematic collection of related acts is not an established way in which the ideas of armchair criminologists achieve acclaim. While it may be a part of their research methodology, it is not a widely recognized aspect of their contributions to the field. The other options, such as involvement of distinguished lecturers, publications in prestigious essays, and association with institutions of higher learning, are all ways in which their ideas may achieve acclaim.

Question 8

Because the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment had a major impact on police policy, the National Institute of Justice decided to see if the same results would be found if the study was conducted in other cities around the U.S. This is an example of the issue of
A) replicability.
B) intersubjectivity.
C) reactivity.
D) instrumentation.

Accepted Answer

The issue being described is whether the findings of the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment can be replicated in other cities, which is essentially a question of replicability.

Question 9

What is the first step in any research?
A) Develop a research design
B) Review the findings
C) Choose a data collection technique
D) Identify a problem

Accepted Answer

The first step in any research is to identify a problem or a research question that the study seeks to address. This helps to focus the research and determine the appropriate research design, data collection techniques, and analytical methods to be used.

Question 10

The "evidence" in evidence-based criminology refers to
A) information obtained from witnesses to the crime.
B) fingerprints found at the crime scene.
C) experimental scientific findings.
D) social discussions.

Accepted Answer

The "evidence" in evidence-based criminology refers to experimental scientific findings. The field of criminology relies on empirical research and data-driven evidence to inform policies and practices. This includes randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and observational studies, among others, that provide evidence to support or refute theories and interventions in the criminal justice system. While information obtained from witnesses and physical evidence like fingerprints can be useful in solving crimes, they do not necessarily inform evidence-based approaches to reduce crime and improve criminal justice outcomes. Social discussions may provide context and perspectives, but they do not necessarily provide the type of empirical evidence required for evidence-based criminology.

Question 11

Which of the following is not a use of theory in social scientific thinking?
A) Theories supply frameworks within which concepts and variables acquire special significance
B) Theories link studies together
C) Theories can be improved through hypothesis testing
D) Theories provide patterns for the interpretation of data

Accepted Answer

Theories being improved through hypothesis testing is a process of refining theories, not a direct use of theory in social scientific thinking.

Question 12

Evidence-based criminology is founded upon which research method?
A) Randomized, controlled experiments
B) Case studies
C) Participant observation
D) Secondary analysis of data

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based criminology primarily relies on randomized, controlled experiments to establish causal relationships between variables and to assess the effectiveness of interventions. This method allows researchers to isolate the effects of a single variable in a controlled environment, providing strong evidence for cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 13

After the results of a large research study on police procedures were publicized, the researchers were interested in determining whether the study had affected police policy. The researcher telephoned a large number of big-city police departments and asked a number of questions about department policies and procedures. This is an example of which data-gathering strategy?
A) Participant observation
B) Survey research
C) Case study
D) Secondary analysis

Accepted Answer

The strategy used in this scenario is survey research, which involves gathering data through structured questionnaires or interviews. The researchers are directly asking the police departments about their policies and procedures, which is the basis of survey research. Option A (participant observation) involves observing and experiencing a situation first-hand, which is not the case here. Option C (case study) involves in-depth examination of a single case or entity, which is not the scenario here. Option D (secondary analysis) involves re-analyzing data or information that has already been collected and recorded, which is also not the strategy used in this scenario.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of inferential statistics?
A) Standard deviation
B) Correlation
C) Median
D) Test of significance

Accepted Answer

Test of significance is an example of inferential statistics because it involves making inferences about a population based on a sample, and determining whether any observed differences or relationships are statistically significant or simply due to chance. Standard deviation, correlation, and median are all examples of descriptive statistics, which simply summarize or describe a dataset without making inferences about a larger population.

Question 15

You are interested in determining whether allowing prison inmates to have televisions in their cells will reduce violent behavior. You measure the rate of violence in the prison, install televisions in all cells, and then measure the rate of violence again one month later to see if there has been any change. What research design have you used?
A) A controlled experiment
B) A one-group pretest-posttest design
C) A quasi-experiment
D) A life history

Accepted Answer

This is a one-group pretest-posttest design because it involves measuring a single group (the inmates) before and after an intervention (installing televisions) to see if there is a change. There is no control group for comparison, which is characteristic of this design.

Question 16

A(n) __________ is a series of interrelated propositions which attempt to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some class of events.
A) hypothesis
B) theory
C) variable
D) experiment

Accepted Answer

A theory is a comprehensive explanation of a phenomenon or set of phenomena that is based on a large body of scientific evidence, and is considered to be generally true and universally applicable. It provides a framework for understanding and explaining a range of related events or phenomena, and can be used to make predictions about future events or outcomes. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for an observation, and must be tested through experimentation or further observation before it can be accepted as a theory. Variables are characteristics or properties that can be measured or manipulated in research, while an experiment is a research method that involves manipulating one or more variables to measure their impact on a dependent variable.

Question 17

A(n) _______ research design is particularly useful when some aspects of the social setting are beyond the control of the researcher.
A) controlled experiment
B) one-group pretest-posttest
C) quasi-experimental
D) case study

Accepted Answer

A quasi-experimental research design allows the researcher to study the effects of an independent variable in a setting where the control over the variables is limited due to ethical or practical reasons. This design is particularly useful when the researcher cannot control all aspects of the social setting. Controlled experiments require complete control over the variables, one-group pretest-posttest designs lack a comparison group, and case studies focus on a single individual or group, limiting generalizability.

Question 18

Which of the following threats to external validity is an example of the problem of reactive effects of experiment arrangements?
A) A pretest was conducted that sensitized the subjects to the topic of the research, so that they may have responded to the treatment differently than would individuals who did not go through the pretest
B) Defendants in a county court are allowed to choose whether or not they would like to participate in a study to determine the effectiveness of a new diversion program
C) Inmates in a prison are aware that they are part of a study on prison violence and modify their behavior as a result of this awareness
D) Inmates in a prison are participating in two research studies and are simultaneously exposed to two different experimental interventions

Accepted Answer

The problem of reactive effects of experiment arrangements refers to the possibility that participants may modify their behavior in response to the awareness that they are being studied. In this example, inmates in a prison are aware that they are part of a study on prison violence and may modify their behavior as a result, thus threatening the external validity of the study. The other options do not directly relate to reactive effects of experiment arrangements.

Question 19

_______ research is undertaken simply for the sake of advancing scientific knowledge.
A) Applied
B) Pure
C) Primary
D) Secondary

Accepted Answer

Pure research, also known as basic or fundamental research, is conducted without any practical or commercial application in mind. Its sole purpose is to increase knowledge and understanding of a particular topic. Applied research, on the other hand, aims to solve specific practical problems or develop new technologies. Primary and secondary research refer to methods of data collection, not the purpose of research.

Question 20

You are interested in studying how prison inmates and correctional officers interact on a daily basis. To do this, you get a job as a correctional officer in a state prison and work there for several months. What data-gathering strategy are you employing here?
A) Participant observation
B) Survey research
C) Secondary analysis
D) Self-reporting

Accepted Answer

The data-gathering strategy being employed here is participant observation. The researcher is directly involved in the setting they are studying, observing and interacting with the individuals they are researching in their natural environment.

Quiz 2: Where Do Theories Come From

Which of the following threats to internal validity is an example of the problem of experimental mortality?

_____________ is the process by which a concept is made measurable or a simple hypothesis is turned into one that is testable.

Which of the following is not a scientific endeavor?

Which of the following statements is an example of a theory?

The statement, "Breaking the cycle of poverty will reduce crime" is an example of a(n)

Which is the only data-gathering technique that does not produce new data?

The ideas of armchair criminologists achieve acclaim in all but which of the following ways?

Because the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment had a major impact on police policy, the National Institute of Justice decided to see if the same results would be found if the study was conducted in other cities around the U.S. This is an example of the issue of

What is the first step in any research?

The "evidence" in evidence-based criminology refers to

Which of the following is not a use of theory in social scientific thinking?

Evidence-based criminology is founded upon which research method?

Which of the following is an example of inferential statistics?

A(n) __________ is a series of interrelated propositions which attempt to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some class of events.

A(n) _______ research design is particularly useful when some aspects of the social setting are beyond the control of the researcher.

Which of the following threats to external validity is an example of the problem of reactive effects of experiment arrangements?

_______ research is undertaken simply for the sake of advancing scientific knowledge.

You are interested in studying how prison inmates and correctional officers interact on a daily basis. To do this, you get a job as a correctional officer in a state prison and work there for several months. What data-gathering strategy are you employing here?