Intro / Chapter 1

Question 1

What is a Theory?

Answer 1

Theory - an explanation for the relationships among abstract variables.

i.e. abstract explanation

Question 2

What is a Model?

Answer 2

An explanation for the relationships among concrete measures.

i.e. concrete explanation

Question 3

What is a Hypothesis?

Answer 3

A description of the relationships among abstract variables.

i.e. abstract expectation

Question 4

What is a Prediction?

Answer 4

A description of the relationship among concrete variables.

i.e. concrete expectation

Question 5

What is the difference between a causal relationship and a statistical relationship?

Answer 5

Causal relationships are directional and asymmetrical.

Statistical relationships are based off of associations.

Question 6

What are the two types of criminological theories?

Answer 6

Theories about making and enforcing law and theories about breaking law.

Question 7

What do Structural (Macro) theories focus on?

Answer 7

Structural (Macro) theories focus on group and societal rates of crime.

Question 8

What do Processual (Micro) theories focus on?

Answer 8

Processual (Micro) theories focus on individual differences and societal processes.

Question 9

How are theories evaluated?

Answer 9

Theories are evaluated by being compared to other theories as well as based on the criteria of:

• Clarity, Scope and Parsimony
• Testability
• Practical Usefulness
• Empirical Validity

Question 10

What is Parsimony?

Answer 10

Parsimony - the conciseness and abstractness of a set of concepts or propositions.

Question 11

What is Soft Determination?

Answer 11

Soft Determination - allows for human agency and recognizes that various factors influence and limit actions but leave room for individual choices that cannot be completely predicted.