research assistants who pose as subjects in a study
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content analysis
systematic classification and analysis of data such as the content of mass media
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debriefing
after completion of a study (particularly one involving deception), reassurance of subjects and explanation of the purposes of the research
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disguised observation
informed consent of subjects is not sought and researchers pretend to be apart of the study group
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meta-analysis
(analysis of analysis) statistical analysis of data from many different studies dealing with the same research question in order to determine general findings
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non reactivity
research conducted in such a manner that subject reactivity, or awareness of being studied is eliminated
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physical trace evidence
type of unobtrusive measurement that involves the analysis of deposits, accretion of matter, and other indirect substances produced by previous human interaction. archives, diaries. investigation.
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secondary analysis
reanalysis of data that were gathered for other purposes
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stimulation
situation or game that attempts to mimic key features of reality
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unobtrusive measures
(non reactive methods) ways of studying groups that they remain unaware of being studied, thus eliminating reactivity
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construct validity
accuracy of the scale or measurement in tapping the correct concept or construct. " instrument measures what it's been made to do"
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content validity
accuracy of individuals items in a scale in measuring the concept being measured. examine each item, content of instrument, judge which measures the concept
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convergent-discriminant validity
different measures of the same concept should yield similar results (convergence), whereas the same measures of different concepts should yield different results (discrimination).
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drug use forecasting (DUF)
NIJ research program that asks volunteer arrestees to provide urine specimens for drug usage
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face validity
accuracy of the instrument in measuring (on face value) that which is intended
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multiple forms
involves the administration of alternate forms of the instrument to the same group
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pragmatic validity
accuracy of the measuring instrument in predicting current status (concurrent validity) or future status (predictive validity). " does instrument work"
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Reliability
consistency and or stability of measuring instrument
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split-half reliability
each half of the scale is analyzed as if it were a separate scale
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test-retest method
ability of the same instrument, when administrated twice to the same population, to produce the same results, thus demonstrating the stability (reliability) of the measure
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Triangulation
the use of multiple methods to study one research question
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validity
accuracy of measurement, does the instrument in fact measure that which its purports to measure
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Salient Factor Score
sentencing/parole prediction scheme by the U.S Parole commission to predict recidivism. 10 point scale
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scaling
refers to attempts to increase the complexity of the level of measurement of variables from nominal to at least ordinal and hopefully interval/ratio
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scientific methods scales
five point scale that evaluates the methodological rigor and type of research designs of studies
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Sellin-Wolfgang Index
procedure for assigning crime seriousness weights. accounts for both quality and quantity of an act. a point system
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semantic differential
usually a seven or nine point bipolar rating scale; respondents are asked to indicate their perception of the tag or description provided. ex. good__:__:Bad. reveals three dimensions, evaluation, potency, and oriented activity
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Thurstone Scales
attitude scales that rely on ratings by judges of scale items
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UCR index
refers to the Uniform Crime Reports index that features an attempt to combine the most serious and best measures of recorded crime. is arbitraru and unweighted
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Unidimensionality
Requirement of the Guttman scales that the items measure only one dimension (or concept); this is assumed if ninety percent reproducibility is achieved.
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nominal level variables
measurement that places in mutually exclusive categories and has no mathematical meaning. simplest level
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ordinal level variables
Placement of objects into ranks, for example, first, second, and third. contains all characteristics of nominal, ranking system. stats: ANOVA, chi-square, spearman
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prediction scales
attempts to forecast crime commission or success or failure on probation/parole
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Q-sort methodology
an attitudinal scale procedure in which the respondents sort questions (on cards) into predetermined categories. newer variation of Thurstone
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Rand Seven-Factor Index
A self-report scale of inmates that resulted in an arbitrary scale to predict recidivism. aimed at selective incapacitation
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ratio level variables
interval level measurement that also has a fixed, meaningful zero point. contains all of them. ex. age, weight, income, years of education
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likert scales
simple summated attitude scales consisting of five point bipolar response scheme. ranging from strongly agree to disagree. doesnt use judges
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lethality assessment screening scale
a scale to predict the likelhood of future violence. domestic violence, LAPD protocol is to take this survey
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item analysis
assessing the ability of each item to discriminate and predict scale outcomes
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internal level variables
(level measurement) measurement in which equal distance (or intervals) between objects on a scale is assumed
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Guttman Scaling
a scale that researchers use after data are collected to reveal whether a hierarchical pattern exists among responses, such that people who give responses at a "higher level" also tend to give "lower-level" ones. the scale should measure one dimension only
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equal appearing intervals
Thurstone's method that used judges to decide scale scores by sorting items into categories
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Crime Seriousness Scales
procedures that assign weight or severity rating to various crimes
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Arbitrary Scales
scales developed by the researcher based primarily on face validity and personal judgement. Ex. Hagan of a social class scale includes values from the variables income, education, and occupation added together.
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assessment
the enumeration of the need for an activity or resource. method of finding service delivery gaps and substantiating unmet needs in a community, and is used to establish priorities for addressing problems
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Evaluability Assessment
assessing whether a program is evaluable
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evaluation research
applied branch of social science that is intended to supply scientifically valid information with which to guide public
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impact evaluation
Examination of relationship between outcome and input, activities and results of a program.
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Monitoring
similar to auditing; assessment of whether a program is doing what it is supposed to be doing in terms of process or program activities
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policy analysis
study of the causes and consequences of government behavior
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process evaluation
Establishment of casual relationships between results and project inputs and activities.
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Systems Model
all parts of an organism, organization, or program are interrelated and consist of a series of inputs and outputs
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Advantages of Unobtrusive Measures
* Non reactivity - More natural behavior * Avoids the over reliance on attitudinal data (verbal descriptions by respondents about their behavior) * Use of recording hardware increases accuracy (Permanent record) * collection of physical evidence is inconspicuous/anonymity * observation is 1st hand
non reactive is best way to study phenomena
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disadvantages of unobtrusive
invasion of privacy, respondents may be unresponsive, time and resources (need a lot of both), observer bias, issues of accuracy (records may be biased)
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scaling procedures
using more than one question to measure complex. developing sets of questions
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why would we want to use multi question measures
single indicators is hard, good for ordinal level, indexes and scales are efficient for data analysis
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simple rating scales
respondents rate crime on an ordinal scale from 1 (not serious) to 9 (extremely serious)
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magnitude scales
attempts to develop scales at the interval or ratio levels fo measurement
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career criminal programs
attempts by both police and prosecutors to predict patterns of future criminal behavior
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policy experiments
applied field experiments that addressed to immediate, practical policy questions
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NIJ mission statement (policy analysis)
develop knowledge about crime, its causes, and control
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model
a simplfied schema that outlines the essential part of a theory
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inputs of model
resources, guidleines, rules, and operating procedures
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activities of model
what is done in the project with these inputs
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results of model
specific consequences of the project
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outcomes of model
accomplishment of broader range societal goals
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feedback of model
recycling of results/outcomes
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is the project evaluable?
researcher is concerned with the existing design, objectives, other programmatic elements
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steps in evaluation research
Problem formulation, Design of Instruments, Research Design, Data Collection, data Analysis, Findings and Conclusions, Utilization
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what did congress do in 1996
required attorney general to provide a $3 billion in grants to assist state/local law enforcement to see how they could prevent crime
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Exhibit 11.1 what works
evaluation research has been done.
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11.1 infants
frequent home visits by nurses/professions
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11.1 preschoolers
classes with weekly home visits by teachers
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11.1 for delinquents
family therapy and parent training
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11.1 for schools
organization development, communication, social competency skills being taught, coaching high risk youth
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11.1 older male sex offenders
vocational training
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11.1 for rental housing with drug dealing
nuisance abatement action on landlords
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11.1 for high crime hot spots
extra police patrols
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11.1 high risk repeat offenders
monitoring by specialized police units
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11.1 for domestic abuser who have a job
on scene arrests
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11.1 for convicted offenders
rehab programs
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11.1 drug using offenders in prison
therapeutic community treatment programs
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11.1 what doesn't work
gun "buyback" programs, DARE, community mobilization, shifting crime from one place to another, day after visits of domestic dispute
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11.1 whats promising?
proactive drunk driving arrests, community policing to set priorities
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Campbell Collaboration
an international organization that conducts meta-analyses in order to discover what works in criminology
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Blueprints Initiative
violence prevention. effort to model violence-prevention programs