Criminology Research Methods Explained:
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Crime Measurement
Techniques – Questions & Solutions
Save
Terms in this set (203)
What are the two main types of Quantitative and qualitative methods.
research methods?
What does qualitative research Rich and in-depth descriptions that help understand
provide? issues.
What is the primary focus of To tell us why a problem exists.
quantitative research?
What can qualitative research reveal It can explain why something or someone is
about deviance? perceived as deviant.
What is a common qualitative research Interviews.
method?
What are the characteristics of in- Flexible open-ended questioning that allows
depth interviews? participants to describe their experiences in their
own words.
What is a semi-structured interview? An interview with a set of questions that allows for
deviation and probing.
What is an unstructured interview? A conversational interview where questions are
developed on the spot.
What do life history interviews focus Biography and identity related to experiences.
on?
,What is social desirability bias? When participants alter their responses to be
perceived positively.
What are recall errors in interviews? Participants may forget or misrepresent their
experiences, especially traumatic ones.
How can interviewer effects influence Participants' responses may vary based on the
responses? interviewer's appearance and demeanor.
What is participant observation? A method where researchers observe a social setting
while participating in everyday activities.
What are the limitations of participant Access issues, researcher safety, consent and
observation? deception, and time intensity.
What is photovoice? A method combining photography and interviews
where participants take photos related to themes.
What are some ethical considerations Informed consent, confidentiality, legal risks, and
in qualitative research? researcher safety.
What is the importance of gaining It helps build trust with participants, especially in
rapport in qualitative research? stigmatized groups.
What ethical issues arose in the Failure to gain informed consent and negative
Humphrey tea room study? outcomes for participants.
What is the significance of Goffman's It involved long-term ethnography with ethical
'On the Run' study? controversies and legal entanglements.
What are the goals of quantitative Objectivity and generalization.
research?
What are three common ways to Official crime counts, crime victimization surveys, and
measure crime? self-reported offender surveys.
What do official crime counts include? Crimes known to police and arrests made.
, What is a general social survey? A survey where people answer questions about
victimization, made publicly available.
What is a limitation of qualitative They cannot make broad claims and often involve
methods? smaller sample sizes.
Why do researchers use qualitative To better understand the phenomenon of deviance,
methods to study deviance? including how and why it occurs.
What is a key feature of qualitative It provides meaning-centered, rich data that is
research? flexible.
What is the purpose of crime To uncover the dark figure of crime and understand
victimization surveys? why people do not report crimes.
What are the two types of crimes Part 1 crimes (e.g., murder, sexual assault) and Part 2
classified in Uniform Crime Records crimes (e.g., loitering, DUI).
(UCR)?
What is the 'dark figure of crime'? The amount of unreported or undiscovered crime.
What is a major limitation of crime They do not account for unreported crimes or the
counts? demographics of crime.
What does the term 'self-report Surveys that rely on individuals to report their own
offender surveys' refer to? criminal involvement.
What is the significance of the It indicates how much of a phenomenon a study
coefficient of determination (r²) in explains, typically less than 0.3 in social science.
quantitative research?
What is the main focus of the classical To understand crime through rational choice and the
school of criminology? deterrent effects of punishment.
Who is considered the father of Cesare Lombroso.
modern criminology?
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Crime Measurement
Techniques – Questions & Solutions
Save
Terms in this set (203)
What are the two main types of Quantitative and qualitative methods.
research methods?
What does qualitative research Rich and in-depth descriptions that help understand
provide? issues.
What is the primary focus of To tell us why a problem exists.
quantitative research?
What can qualitative research reveal It can explain why something or someone is
about deviance? perceived as deviant.
What is a common qualitative research Interviews.
method?
What are the characteristics of in- Flexible open-ended questioning that allows
depth interviews? participants to describe their experiences in their
own words.
What is a semi-structured interview? An interview with a set of questions that allows for
deviation and probing.
What is an unstructured interview? A conversational interview where questions are
developed on the spot.
What do life history interviews focus Biography and identity related to experiences.
on?
,What is social desirability bias? When participants alter their responses to be
perceived positively.
What are recall errors in interviews? Participants may forget or misrepresent their
experiences, especially traumatic ones.
How can interviewer effects influence Participants' responses may vary based on the
responses? interviewer's appearance and demeanor.
What is participant observation? A method where researchers observe a social setting
while participating in everyday activities.
What are the limitations of participant Access issues, researcher safety, consent and
observation? deception, and time intensity.
What is photovoice? A method combining photography and interviews
where participants take photos related to themes.
What are some ethical considerations Informed consent, confidentiality, legal risks, and
in qualitative research? researcher safety.
What is the importance of gaining It helps build trust with participants, especially in
rapport in qualitative research? stigmatized groups.
What ethical issues arose in the Failure to gain informed consent and negative
Humphrey tea room study? outcomes for participants.
What is the significance of Goffman's It involved long-term ethnography with ethical
'On the Run' study? controversies and legal entanglements.
What are the goals of quantitative Objectivity and generalization.
research?
What are three common ways to Official crime counts, crime victimization surveys, and
measure crime? self-reported offender surveys.
What do official crime counts include? Crimes known to police and arrests made.
, What is a general social survey? A survey where people answer questions about
victimization, made publicly available.
What is a limitation of qualitative They cannot make broad claims and often involve
methods? smaller sample sizes.
Why do researchers use qualitative To better understand the phenomenon of deviance,
methods to study deviance? including how and why it occurs.
What is a key feature of qualitative It provides meaning-centered, rich data that is
research? flexible.
What is the purpose of crime To uncover the dark figure of crime and understand
victimization surveys? why people do not report crimes.
What are the two types of crimes Part 1 crimes (e.g., murder, sexual assault) and Part 2
classified in Uniform Crime Records crimes (e.g., loitering, DUI).
(UCR)?
What is the 'dark figure of crime'? The amount of unreported or undiscovered crime.
What is a major limitation of crime They do not account for unreported crimes or the
counts? demographics of crime.
What does the term 'self-report Surveys that rely on individuals to report their own
offender surveys' refer to? criminal involvement.
What is the significance of the It indicates how much of a phenomenon a study
coefficient of determination (r²) in explains, typically less than 0.3 in social science.
quantitative research?
What is the main focus of the classical To understand crime through rational choice and the
school of criminology? deterrent effects of punishment.
Who is considered the father of Cesare Lombroso.
modern criminology?
