CH 2: The Processes and Problems of Research Related to Crime and Criminology

AUTHENTICITY

when the understanding of a social process or social setting is one that fairly reflects the various perspectives of participants in the setting

CAUSAL VALIDITY (INTERNAL VALIDITY)

exists when a conclusion that “x leads to or results in y” is correct

CONSTANT

a characteristic or property that does not vary but takes on only one value

CROSS-POPULATION GENERALIZABILITY (EXTERNAL VALIDITY)

exists when findings about one group, population, or setting hold true for other groups, populations, or settings

DEDUCTIVE REASONING

the type of reasoning that moves from the general to the specific

DEDUCTIVE RESEARCH

the type of research in which a specific explanation is deduced from a general premise and is then tested; compared with inductive research

DEPENDENT VARIABLE

a variable that is hypothesized to vary depending on or under the influence of the independent variable

EMPIRICAL GENERALIZATIONS

statements that describe patterns found in data from a sample to the population

FALSIFIABLE

being capable of being proven wrong, having the capacity to be empirically tested and falsified

HYPOTHESIS

a tentative statement about empirical reality involving a relationship between two or more variables

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

a variable that is hypothesized to cause, lead, to variation in the dependent variable

INDUCTIVE REASONING

the type of reasoning that moves from the specific to the general

INDUCTIVE RESEARCH

the type of research in which general conclusions are drawn from special datal compared with deductive research

MEASURMENT VALIDITY

exists when a measurment actually measures what we think it does

REPLICATIONS

repetition of a study using the same research methods to answer the same research question

RESEARCH CIRCLE

a diagram of elements of the research process, including theories, hypotheses, data collection, and data analysis

RESEARCH QUESTION

a question that is answered through the collection and analysis of firsthand, verifiable, empirical data

SAMPLE GENERALIZABILITY

exists when a conclusion based on a sample, or subset, of a larger population holds true for that population

SERENDIPITUOUS FINDINGS (ANOMALOUS FINDINGS)

unexpected patterns in data that stimulates new ideas or theoretical approaches

THEORETICAL CONSTRUCTS

a construct that describes what is important to look at to understand, explain, or predict a phenomenon

THEORY

a logically interrelated set of propositions about empirical reality. Ex. of criminological theories are social learning, routine activities, labeling, general strain, and social disorganization theory

VARIABLE

a characteristic or property that can vary (take on different values or attributes)