Scientific Method
Name 3 sources of knowledge, alternative to research.
tradition, authority, media, common sense, personal experience
Examples of this include
•Are children who are violent more likely than nonviolent children to use violence as adults?
•Does the race of a victim who is killed influence whether someone is sentenced to death rather than life imprisonment?
Research Question
Who is the intended audience of student research or thesis?
Professor or Thesis Committee
A diagram of the elements of the research process, including theories, hypotheses, data collection, and data analysis
The Research Circle
When developing a research question (or hypothesis), where should you start?
theory
Claims based on beliefs and/or public testimonials, not on the scientific method are called? EX astrology, phrenology
pseudoscience
A logically interrelated set of propositions about empirical reality. Examples of criminological theories are social learning, routine activities, labeling, general strain, and social disorganization theory.
Theory
Name a goal of reporting research
advance scientific knowledge, shape social policy, organize social action
The type of research in which specific data are used to develop a general explanation
Inductive Research
Name one of the 4 types of criminological research listed in Chapter 1
HINT: not quantitative/qualitative
descriptive research, exploratory research, explanatory research, evaluation research
Combining both qualitative and quantitative methods to study one research project/question
Mixed-Methods
Identify the IV and DV
Offenders who participate in rehabilitation programs will have lower rates of recidivism compared to those who do not
IV: participation in program
DV: recidivism rates
Who is the intended audience of a Journal article?
Scientific Community, other social science researchers, others in the academic field, field experts
The type of research in which a specific expectation is concluded from a general premise and is then tested
Deductive Research
Why is validity (and each type of validity) important in research.
Conclusions based on invalid measures, invalid generalizations or invalid causal inferences will be invalid
Name 2 flaws of sources of knowledge, alternative to research.
overgeneralization, selective observation, inaccurate observation, illogical reasoning
Name one of the three criteria used for evaluating a good research question
Feasibility, Social Importance, Scientific Relevance
What is one way you can avoid plagiarism?
credit/reference/identify original author when using material verbatim or paraphrased
don't present others' work as your own
cite ALL sources, even when not directly quoting
A number/variable that has a fixed value in a given situation; a characteristic or value that does not change
Constant
How do the results and discussion sections of a journal article differ?
Results section includes the statistical findings, you may use charts/figures/graphs
Discussion section includes your own evaluation and interpretation of the statistical findings. What do these results mean? What implications can be made based on my findings?
Name 3 methods a researcher can use to collect data? Ex: surveys
experimental design, participant observation, intensive interviewing (in-depth interviewing), content analysis, secondary data analysis, crime mapping
Research Standards: Name and explain a type of validity discussed in the textbook
measurement validity: measures what is intended
generalizable validity: conclusion based on a sample applies to a larger population
causal validity/internal validity: when using an experimental design, a conclusion "x leads to y" is correct
What are the 7 standard sections of a research article/Journal article
abstract, intro, literature review, method, results, discussion, references
Unexpected patterns in data that stimulate new ideas or theoretical approaches
serendipitous findings, anomalous findings
Exists when findings about one group, population, or setting hold true for other groups, populations, or settings
cross-population or external validity