CJ Research Methods final Exam

studied byStudied by 36 People
5.0(5)

Define Empirical Research

1/113

Studying Progress

New cards
113
Still learning
0
Almost Done
0
Mastered
0
113 Terms
New cards

Define Empirical Research

is based on observed and measured phenomena and derives knowledge from actual experience rather than from theory

New cards
New cards

What are the 2 scientific standards for agreement reality?

  1. Empirical Support

  2. Logical Support

New cards
New cards

What is the FORMAL definition of social science research methods ?

A systematic procedure or technique used by a discipline to acquire knowledge

New cards
New cards

What is the INFORMAL definition of social science research methods?

The study of how we know what we know

New cards
New cards

What are the 2 reasons we need to know about social science research methods?

  1. Being Consumers of Research2. Being Producers of research

New cards
New cards

What is Qualitative Data?

Data explained with words than numbers

New cards
New cards

What is quantative data?

numerical data

New cards
New cards

Explain the basic flow of the research circle...

Inductive research = deductive research data = theory

New cards
New cards

What is Deductive Research?

Theoretical expectation leads to gathering of data to test the expectation in the real world (general to specific)

New cards
New cards

What is Inductive Research?

Specific observations lead to a discovery of a general pattern (specific to general)

New cards
New cards

Name the 4 purposes of research

  1. Descriptive Research

  2. Exploratory Research

  3. Explanatory Research

  4. Evaluation/ Applied Research

New cards
New cards

What is Descriptive Research?

seeks to define and describe a social phenomena Ex: "how much crime there is" - "how many people attend this university"

New cards
New cards

What is Exploratory Research?

seeks to understand and investigate social phenomena about which little is known. often qualitative

New cards
New cards

What is Explanatory Research?

seeks to identify causes and effects of social phenomena

New cards
New cards

What is Evaluation/ Applied Research?

seeks to determine the overall effectiveness of a CJ intervention

New cards
New cards

What's a hypothesis?

Specific statements or predictions regarding the relationship between two variables

New cards
New cards

What does Idiographic mean?

a full and complete explanation of a single case Ex: diving into all the details of the person's life (childhood) which then uncovers possible trauma

New cards
New cards

What does Nomothetic mean?

a simple (parsimonious) explanation of related cases

New cards
New cards

Independent Variable (IV)

variable that is manipulated or the presumed cause

New cards
New cards

Dependent Variable (DV)

The measured outcome of a study; the responses of the subjects in a study aka. presumed outcome or effect

New cards
New cards

Difference between a variable and an attribute..

-variables are logical groupings of attributes; age, sex, race -attributes are characteristics that describe a person, place, or thing

New cards
New cards

What are the 6 criteria that is needed for evaluating criminological theories?

  1. Logical Consistency

  2. Scope

  3. Parsimony

  4. Falsifiability

  5. Empirical Validity

  6. Practical Utility

New cards
New cards

What the difference between micro and macro levels of theory?

  • Micro level : explains individuals involvement in crime

  • Macro level: explains group involvement in crime

New cards
New cards

T/F Random Sampling and Random Assignment are NOT the same thing

True!!!

New cards
New cards

What's appropriate time order ?

states that the independent variable MUST be measured before the dependent variable to ensure correct causal ordering

New cards
New cards

Cross Sectional Data

All data are collected at a single point in time

New cards
New cards

Longitudinal data

Data are collected at two or more points in time

New cards
New cards

What is Empirical Association?

Two variables must be related with each other (i.e., they must vary together or "covary") The three types include positive, negative and no association at all

New cards
New cards

Difference between + and - associations

  • = variables in same direction

  • = variables in opposite direction

New cards
New cards

What are the 3 main requirements to make a strong casual inference?

1.Empirical Association2. Appropriate Time-Order3. Non-Spuriousness

New cards
New cards

What are trend studies?

A Longitudinal study where data is collected at 2 or more different points in time from DIFFERENT samples of the same population

New cards
New cards

What's a Fixed-Sample Panel Design?

A Longitudinal study where data is collected at 2 or more points in time from SAME samples.

New cards
New cards

What are the 4 types of validity?

  1. external

  2. internal

  3. construct

  4. statistical conclusion

New cards
New cards

What are units of analysis?

the level of social life or phenomena that is being studied

New cards
New cards

What are units of observation?

the level of social life or phenomena that is being observed

New cards
New cards

Measurement Reliability

shows that the measurement produces the same results each time

New cards
New cards

Measurement Validity

states that the measurement accurately reflects the meaning of a concept

New cards
New cards

Types of validity assessments of measures

face, criterion, content, construct

New cards
New cards

What's the difference between Confidentiality and Anonymity?

Confidentiality: subjects CAN be identified only by the researchers Anonymity: subjects CANNOT be identified even by the researchers

New cards
New cards

What are the 3 primary ethical considerations researchers must consider ?

  1. voluntary participation

  2. avoidance of harm

  3. protection of subjects identities

New cards
New cards

What are the 4 ethical considerations when reporting research?

  1. Revealing limitations

  2. Reporting null findings

  3. Avoiding staging findings

  4. Protecting subject identities

New cards
New cards

Name the 4 ethical conundrums

  1. Mandatory reporting

  2. withholding of treatment

  3. Research influences crime

  4. Staff misbehavior

New cards
New cards

As a general rule, researchers should avoid causing what to research subjects, researchers, informants and other individuals?

They should avoid causing any physical and physiological harm

New cards
New cards

What are the different level of measurements?

nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio

New cards
New cards

What are Nominal Measures

Measures that simply tell us there is a difference between attributes

New cards
New cards

What are Ordinal Measures

Measures that rank-order differences between attributes

New cards
New cards

What are Interval Measures

Measures that use equally spaced intervals to meaningfully specify the difference between rank-ordered attributes

New cards
New cards

What are Ratio Measures

Measures that use equally spaced intervals and a true zero point to meaningfully specify the difference and proportional difference between rank-ordered attributes, respectively

New cards
New cards

What's the difference between mutually exclusive measures and mutually exhaustive measure

1- Exhaustive: All possible attributes of a variable must be specified 2- Mutually Exclusive: Each observation can take on only one attribute

New cards
New cards

What is the conceptualization process?

The process of specifying exactly what a concept means

New cards
New cards

what is the operationalization process?

The process of specifying the procedure for actually measuring the concepts in our research

New cards
New cards

What is the best sampling methods for generalizability?

probability sampling (random sampling) may include:

  • simple random sampling

  • systematic sampling

  • stratified sampling

  • disproportionate stratified sampling

  • cluster sampling

New cards
New cards

explain probability sampling and implications for generalizability

-A method of sampling in which each individual has a known probability of being selected into the sample.

  • randomization is utilized

New cards
New cards

explain non- probability sampling and implications for generalizability

-A method of sampling in which each individual does not have a known probability of being selected into the sample

  • randomization is not utilized

New cards
New cards

Explain sampling error

Error that occurs when we use a sample statistic to estimate the value of a population parameter.

New cards
New cards

Explain sampling bias

Error that occurs from using a non-probability sample or from under coverage.

New cards
New cards

What is under coverage?

Undercoverage refers to the sampling frame not capturing everyone in the target population.

New cards
New cards

What is non-response bias?

Error that occurs when some sampled subjects refuse to participate or do not complete portions of the survey.

New cards
New cards

What is a response bias

  • Error that occurs from subjects' incorrect responses or poorly worded questionnaires.

New cards
New cards

What type of error occurs with probability sampling but due to randomization we have statical theory to guide our inferences

Sampling error

New cards
New cards

_______ ________ also occurs with non-probability and, because of lack of randomization, sampling bias is likely

sampling error

New cards
New cards

What is the sampling frame?

The 'list' of elements from which a probability sample is drawn

New cards
New cards

We want the sampling frame to include ___________ in the population

everyone!

New cards
New cards

What happens when the sampling frame doesn't dhow everyone in the population?

non-representative probability samples are possible because those not in sampling frame may differ fundamentally from those in the sampling frame.

New cards
New cards

What are the 4 types of non-probability samples?

-Availability Sampling

  • purposive sampling

  • quota sampling

  • snowball sampling

New cards
New cards

What are the 5 types of probability samples

  • Simple Random Sampling

  • systematic sampling

  • stratified sampling

  • disproportionate stratified sampling

  • cluster sampling

New cards
New cards

Explain experimental research

  • Research design in which the experimenter controls all aspects of the research

  • random assignment is utilized

  • Considered the "gold standard" of social science research

New cards
New cards

What is Quasi-Experimental Research?

Research in which the experimenter approximates experimental research with observational data

  • random assignment is not utilized

New cards
New cards

What is Interrupted Time Series

is an analysis is a useful quasi-experimental design with which to evaluate the longitudinal effects of interventions, through regression modeling.

New cards
New cards

What are focus groups

Small group of people that engage in a guided discussion of a topic or issue

New cards
New cards

How does one gain access to research subjects in field research

A case study in which the researcher goes into a natural environment and acquires knowledge via observation and asking questions

New cards
New cards

What are the 3 goals of field research/ ethnography

  • To fully understand a particular case as it occurs in the natural environment

  • To collect data that enables the creation of grounded theory

  • Inductive theory building

New cards
New cards

What are saturation points in field research ?

The saturation point occurs when new interviews or observations yield little additional information

New cards
New cards

What is a full participant

Research subjects view the researcher as "one of them."

New cards
New cards

What is a participant observer

Participate but make it known to research subjects that you are a researcher and are collecting data

New cards
New cards

What is a full observer ?

Researcher refrains from participation

New cards
New cards

What's an example of a structured observations ?

Checklist of physical disorder items.

New cards
New cards

What's an example of a unstructured observations

record behaviors and actions as they occur without a specific plan or checklist.

New cards
New cards

What's an example of a structured interview ?

a set of question is asked during an interview.

New cards
New cards

What's an example of a unstructured interview ?

conversation flows naturally and questions are adapted accordingly.

New cards
New cards

What are the 3 ways of administering a survey?

  1. Self administration: paper/pencil, computer based, individual or group setting

  2. Professional administration: in person interview, CAPI, CASI

  3. Telephone interview: CATI

New cards
New cards

Name the 3 qualities of surgery's and survey research

  • Versatility

  • Efficiency

  • Generalizability

New cards
New cards

Define Versatility

Survey research that can enhance knowledge about various topics in criminology, criminal justice, and social science generally.

New cards
New cards

Define Efficiency in regards to quality survey

Data on a large number of variables can be collected with a single survey, thereby making surveys useful for a variety of research purposes.

New cards