Why Research?
This method is used in criminology and criminal justice to study crime and criminals scientifically.
What is the scientific method?
This is generally the best type of research to reference because it has been evaluated by other experts in the field.
What is peer-reviewed research?
In an experimental study, this group does not receive the experimental stimulus or treatment.
What is the control group?
This process converts concepts and variables from words or categories into numbers so they can be statistically analyzed.
What is coding?
This is subjective speculation, unproven theories, or faulty methods presented in court as objective scientific fact.
What is junk science?
These two concepts are important when using research methods in criminology and criminal justice.
What are methodology and theory?
This is the process of conducting the same study again to determine whether the same results can be found.
What is replication?
This research design compares a treatment group to a group that did not receive the treatment, but participants are not randomly assigned.
What is a quasi-experimental design?
In a study examining whether increased police patrols reduce crime rates, this variable is the independent variable, while crime rates are the dependent variable.
What are police patrols?
This service can help you obtain a research paper when you cannot access it through your usual library resources.
What is interlibrary loan?
These are three common ways people acquire knowledge that research methodology helps move beyond.
What are tradition and agreement, authority, and direct experience/observation?
This part of a research project helps researchers understand previous studies, develop research questions and hypotheses, and justify their own study.
What is a literature review?
This report established three main ethical principles for research involving human subjects: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
What is the Belmont Report?
This research design examines a single case or group at one point in time without a comparison or control group.
What is a one-shot case study?
Researchers should avoid these types of terms because they can reflect personal opinions, stereotypes, or unfair assumptions.
What is biased terminology?
This is one problem with relying on authority as a source of knowledge.
What is experts can make mistakes or speak outside their area of expertise?
This type of research focuses on statistical relationships between variables, with determining causality often being a goal.
What is quantitative research?
This committee reviews research involving human participants to make sure their rights, safety, and well-being are protected.
What is an IRB (Institutional Review Board)?
A researcher uses crime statistics that were previously collected by a government agency for a different purpose. This is an example of what type of research?
What is secondary data analysis?
Researchers should avoid using these informal words or expressions in professional research writing.
What is slang terminology?
This occurs when someone assumes that a few similar events represent a general pattern.
What is overgeneralization?
Data can be ___ differently from others, which is why strictly reporting data is suggested.
What is interpreted?
This ethical principle requires researchers to ensure that the potential benefits of a study outweigh or justify its possible risks.
What is beneficence?
This scale measures a person's level of agreement or disagreement with a statement, often using choices such as strongly agree to strongly disagree.
What is a Likert scale?
This type of research is conducted by an organization using its own employees, resources, and data rather than hiring an outside researcher.
What is in-house research?