Chapter 2 - Basic Elements of Criminal Justice Research Flashcards
Quantitative Analysis
Deals with numbers and statistical analysis
Qualitative Analysis
Deals with words and descriptions drawn from interviews, direct observations, and documents
Theory
Ideas and concepts about the nature of crime.
Theories define ________ _________.
Scientific questions
Theories provide a means for selecting _________ and _________.
Variables and measures
Theories make possible the _______________ of _________.
Interpretations of results
Concept
Abstraction that is not directly observable but that the researcher wishes to measure
Variable
Designed to measure an attribute.
Variables usually have more than _____ possible value.
One
Operational Defintion
the measurement of a variable must be clearly specified.
Hypothesis
Stated int he form of a relationship between variables.
Independent Variable (X)
Produces an effect or impact upon the dependent variable
Dependent Variable (Y)
May change due to the presence of the independent variable
Directional Hypothesis
The independent variable is expected to influence the dependent variable in a certain manner
Null Hypothesis
A theoretical statement of no relationship or no difference between the independent and dependent variables.
We always test for the ______ hypothesis
Null
Classical Experiment
Involves the assignment of subjects to the experimental and control groups via random selection
Random Selection
Provides every member of the target population with an equal chance of being selected for the experimental group and ensures that the selection of one subject does not affect the chance that any other member of the target population is selected and ensures that the members of the experimental and control groups are alike in every respect.
Quasi-Experimental Design
Follows the same basic pattern of the classical experiment; comparison group is selected in some other way than random selection
Matching
Under the quasi-experimental design, the comparison group can be established by matching the socio-demographic characteristics of the experimental group with other program eligibles
Random Sampling
Ensures taht the sample is an accurate representation of the population from which it was drawn
Program Evaluation
Addresses the ability of a program or policy to accomplish its goals (action-oriented designed to guide decision making)
Level of Measurement
Involves converting the concepts to numerical data
Nominal Level Measurement
Numbers are substitutes for names and serve as numerical labels
Frequency Distribution
Table or count that displays the number of times that a data value is obtained in a sample of scores
Ordinal Level Measurement
Categories are ranked but we cannot say anything about the distance between the categories on the scale
Internal Level Measurement
Assumes that all items on the scale have equal units of measurement between them and have a commonly recognized meaning
Ratio Level Measurement
Has a true zero point; the zero point makes it possible to consider the manner in which the points ont he scale stand in relation to one another via ratios (Twice as great)
Transitivity
For items on a scale, if A > B and B < C, A must be greater than C
Discrete Variables are ___________.
Categorical
A discrete variable assumes a __________ number of values between ______ ___________.
A discrete variable assumes a finite number of values between two points.
Continuous Variables can take an _________ number of values between points
Infinite
Example of Continuous Variable
Age
