CCJ3701 Exam 1 UF GIBSON || A+ Graded.
What is positivism and its importance for research in criminology? correct answers -asserts
that a well-designed test of a specific prediction can move us closer to understanding actual
social processes
-objective reality apart from perceptions
-less biased approach
-assume as scientists:
what we want to study can be observed and measured,
non-randomness,
no proof, only support
Who is Lombroso and what is he known for in criminology? correct answers -Father of
positivism
-innate criminality and criminal anthropology (discovery of physical features)
-THE CRIMINAL MAN:
evolutionary theory of criminality 1876
germs of ancestral past lay dormant
evolutionary throwbacks
identify by decisive physical stigmata
large ears, long arms, high cheek bones, deviation in head size
SYSTEMATIC STUDY with numerical basis for important claim:
criminals generally have smaller brains than normal people
What is a constant correct answers characteristic or property that cannot vary
What is a variable? correct answers characteristic or property that can vary
What is an independent variable? correct answers -causes/leads to variation in another
variable
proposed influence
explanatory variable
predictor or cause
What is a dependent variable? correct answers hypothesized to change/vary depending on the
variation in another variable
outcome variable
effect
variation in this variable is the function of an independent variable
What is a unit of analysis correct answers -major entity you are analyzing in your study
-level of social life in which the research question is focused:
individuals, neighborhoods, groups, cities, social interactions, artifacts, etc.
-can be more than one!!
example: primary and secondary syphilis - rates by counties graph
unit of analysis = counties
What is an ecological fallacy? correct answers drawing conclusions about individuals from
group level data
, Inductive research correct answers -data, empirical generalizations, theory
-empirical generalizations describe patterns found in data
descriptive research
-motive = exploration
Deductive research correct answers -theory, hypothesis, data
-motives = explanation AND evaluation
experimental
3 types of validity in research correct answers 1. Measurement
2. Causal
3. Generalizability
measurement validity correct answers is a measure measuring what we think it measures
causal validity correct answers A results in B
generalizability correct answers conclusions are supported across different groups, settings,
and events
What are the 4 levels of measurement? correct answers nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
nominal measurement correct answers -attributes are only names; weakest
-categorical or qualitative
-values have no mathematical interpretation
-vary in kind or quality, but not amount
-attributes instead of values
-does not represent more or less than
-same or different
-types:
race, gender, occupation, region of country, hair color
Ordinal Measurement correct answers -attributes can be ordered
-specifies the order of cases
-different from each other
-greater than, less than distinctions
-mathematical distinctions cannot be made
-types:
strongly agree to strongly disagree, not a problem - a big problem, education
interval measurement correct answers -distance is meaningful
-different from one another
-more than or less than
-how much more or less
-no fixed zero point (temperature)
-can subtract and add, equal interval distances
-ratios are not meaningful
ratio measurement correct answers -absolute zero
-fixed zero point
What is positivism and its importance for research in criminology? correct answers -asserts
that a well-designed test of a specific prediction can move us closer to understanding actual
social processes
-objective reality apart from perceptions
-less biased approach
-assume as scientists:
what we want to study can be observed and measured,
non-randomness,
no proof, only support
Who is Lombroso and what is he known for in criminology? correct answers -Father of
positivism
-innate criminality and criminal anthropology (discovery of physical features)
-THE CRIMINAL MAN:
evolutionary theory of criminality 1876
germs of ancestral past lay dormant
evolutionary throwbacks
identify by decisive physical stigmata
large ears, long arms, high cheek bones, deviation in head size
SYSTEMATIC STUDY with numerical basis for important claim:
criminals generally have smaller brains than normal people
What is a constant correct answers characteristic or property that cannot vary
What is a variable? correct answers characteristic or property that can vary
What is an independent variable? correct answers -causes/leads to variation in another
variable
proposed influence
explanatory variable
predictor or cause
What is a dependent variable? correct answers hypothesized to change/vary depending on the
variation in another variable
outcome variable
effect
variation in this variable is the function of an independent variable
What is a unit of analysis correct answers -major entity you are analyzing in your study
-level of social life in which the research question is focused:
individuals, neighborhoods, groups, cities, social interactions, artifacts, etc.
-can be more than one!!
example: primary and secondary syphilis - rates by counties graph
unit of analysis = counties
What is an ecological fallacy? correct answers drawing conclusions about individuals from
group level data
, Inductive research correct answers -data, empirical generalizations, theory
-empirical generalizations describe patterns found in data
descriptive research
-motive = exploration
Deductive research correct answers -theory, hypothesis, data
-motives = explanation AND evaluation
experimental
3 types of validity in research correct answers 1. Measurement
2. Causal
3. Generalizability
measurement validity correct answers is a measure measuring what we think it measures
causal validity correct answers A results in B
generalizability correct answers conclusions are supported across different groups, settings,
and events
What are the 4 levels of measurement? correct answers nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
nominal measurement correct answers -attributes are only names; weakest
-categorical or qualitative
-values have no mathematical interpretation
-vary in kind or quality, but not amount
-attributes instead of values
-does not represent more or less than
-same or different
-types:
race, gender, occupation, region of country, hair color
Ordinal Measurement correct answers -attributes can be ordered
-specifies the order of cases
-different from each other
-greater than, less than distinctions
-mathematical distinctions cannot be made
-types:
strongly agree to strongly disagree, not a problem - a big problem, education
interval measurement correct answers -distance is meaningful
-different from one another
-more than or less than
-how much more or less
-no fixed zero point (temperature)
-can subtract and add, equal interval distances
-ratios are not meaningful
ratio measurement correct answers -absolute zero
-fixed zero point
