Question 1

DeFleur and Quinney referred to a specific form of logic called _______ theory to analyze the internal consistency of one of the more popular theories of criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

set

Question 2

Which term below applies to a theory that is not really macro or micro but rather in-between?

Accepted Answer

A bridging theory is one that connects and integrates both macro and micro levels of analysis, providing a holistic understanding of a concept or phenomenon. It is deemed as being in-between since it bridges the gap between macro and micro theories.

Question 3

Qualitative theory excludes which one of the following factors:

Accepted Answer

Qualitative theory is a research method that emphasizes the subjective interpretation of data rather than numerical measurements. As such, it is not concerned with the ability to be tested statistically, which is a feature of quantitative research methods. Logical soundness, sensitizing ability, and the ability to make sense of conflicting positions are all relevant factors in qualitative theory.

Question 4

Most of today's theories are positivist ones.

Accepted Answer

Most contemporary theories, especially in the natural sciences, are positivist in nature because they rely on empirical evidence and logical reasoning to explain phenomena, aligning with the principles of positivism which emphasizes observable, scientific facts over metaphysical speculation.

Question 5

A ______ theory is one that assumes that people are naturally in agreement on what constitutes crime and criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ______ theory is one that assumes...

Question 6

Theory context has two major forms social and _________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Theory context has two major forms social...

Question 7

Thomas Kuhn purported that new theories which get accepted are those which make sense out of conflicting evidence that old theories cannot explain.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Kuhn argued that new theories that explain conflicting evidence better than old theories are more likely to gain acceptance. This idea is the foundation of his concept of scientific revolutions.

Question 8

The most common approach to determining a "good" theory is to test it and see how well it fits the research evidence.

Accepted Answer

Testing a theory's fit with research evidence is a commonly used approach to evaluating the validity of the theory.

Question 9

The major difference between metatheory and unit theory is that metatheory discusses process and unit theory discusses structure.

Accepted Answer

Metatheory is concerned with the analysis of the methods and principles of a particular field, while unit theory focuses on specific theories within that field. Both can discuss process and structure, but their scope and focus differ.

Question 10

Classical theories do not focus on:

Accepted Answer

Classical theories primarily focus on the rational decision making of individuals and the idea of deterrence, rather than the psychology or underlying causes of criminal behavior. Legal statutes, rights of humans, and governmental structures may be mentioned, but they are not the main focus of classical theories.

Question 11

A good theory is one that best fits the research evidence and can be ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A good theory is one that best...

Question 12

Structural theories of crime propose that:

Accepted Answer

Structural theories of crime focus on how crime rates are influenced by the organization and structure of society, suggesting that changes in social organization can lead to variations in crime rates.

Question 13

Theories about theories are known as:

Accepted Answer

Theories about theories are known as metatheories.

Question 14

Processual theories of crime generally:

Accepted Answer

Processual theories of crime focus on the processes through which individuals become deviant, emphasizing the social and psychological factors that influence this transformation.

Question 15

The most common approach to determining a "good" theory is:

Accepted Answer

The most common approach to determining a "good" theory is based on testability and fit to the research evidence. The theory should have empirical support and be able to be systematically tested and replicated. While logical soundness and the ability to make sense out of conflicting positions are important, they are not necessarily the primary criteria for evaluating a theory. Sensitizing people to new perspectives is also a valuable aspect of theory, but it is not the most commonly used approach for determining the quality of a theory.

Question 16

Microtheories are not interested in crime rates or social structure.

Accepted Answer

Microtheories focus on individual-level factors that contribute to crime, such as personality traits, cognitive processes, and social learning experiences. They do not typically consider broader social factors, such as crime rates or social structure.

Question 17

The textbook suggests that the proper order for solving problems of crime and criminal justice would be:

Accepted Answer

Theory provides a framework for understanding crime and criminal justice issues. Research is used to test and refine theories. Policy implementation is informed by theory and research. Therefore, the proper order is theory, research, then policy.

Question 18

A theory that is assessed by measurement and testing is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A theory that is assessed by measurement and testing is known as a quantitative theory. Quantitative research emphasizes the use of numerical data and statistical analysis for empirical observation and interpretation.

Question 19

A structural theory is also likely to be called a __________theory because we often assume it to be a characteristic of a disorganized society that leads to crime.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A structural theory is also likely to...

Question 20

Microtheories are similar to which one of the following:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Microtheories are similar to which one of...

Quiz 1: Introduction