Criminology Unit 2

• Theories

involve attempts to develop reasonable explanations of reality. Efforts to structure, summarize, or explain the essential elements of the subject in question. Theory is the map to explain what is happening and how it gets together. Can have bias (not always objective).

• Methodology

the collection and analysis of accurate data or facts. Data is the flashlight that helps social scientists see what happening to society

• Objectivity

value free in their inquiry and, in a sense, to permit the findings to speak for themselves. Attempt to remain unbiased. Can shape interpretation of data.

• Ethics

concern with impacts on subjects, ethical conduct in research

• Ethical Conduct in Research

individual responsibility tied into deep moral judgment; a blind adherence to any checklist grossly oversimplifies a very complex decision.

• Code of Ethics

 Strive for highest technical standards in research

 Acknowledge limitations fo research

 Fully report findings

 Disclose financial support nad other sponsorship

 Honor commitments

 Make data available to future researchers

 Not misuse their oppositions as fraudulent pretext for gathering intelligence

 Human subjects have the right to full disclosure of the purposes of the research

 Subjects have the right to confidentiality

 research should not expose subjects to more than minimal risk. If risks are greater than the risk of everyday life, then informed consent must be obtained

 researchers should avoid privacy invasion and protect vulnerable populations

 all research should meet with human subject. Protection requirements imposed by educational institutions and funding sources

 Researchers should properly acknowledge the work of others

 criminologists have an obligation not to create social injustice such as discrimination, oppression, or harassment in their work.

• Reciprocity

system of mutual trust and obligation between the research and subject.

• Confidentiality

subject’s private information is kept private

• Variable

concept that has been operationalized or measured in a specific manner and that can vary or take on different values, usually quantitative (ex. age, income, number of arrests, etc.)

• Operationalization

the process of defining concepts by describing how they are being measured. (ex. crime, homicide, property crime, perception of trust, etc.)

• Uniform Crime Report

US Department of Justice’s national crime statistics owned by the FBI (retired in 2021)/Police departments submit reports to FBI/Participation improved over the years

• Unfounded crimes

defined by officers as not constituting criminal matter

• NIBRS

Redesigned UCR program/Hierarchy rule eliminated

• Case Study/Life History

Close up study of one or a couple people with a unique condition. May uise personal materials like diaries, letters, etc.Ex. reading an ex gang members autobiography

• Participant Observation

researcher joins or watches a group to understand it from the inside Ex. ethnography

• Unobtrusive measures

nonreactive methods of gathering data, which is collecting data without people knowing so they do not change their behavior. Avoids reactivity. Ex. content analysis

• Simulation

intend to mimic or imitate how crime or social systems work. Ex. Stanford prison experiment

• Network Analysis examines the structure of relationships that connect people or other social unties to each other. Ex. human trafficking rings

• Validity

credibility. Are the results true?

• Internal validity

did the study actually measure what it was supposed to? (ex. poverty -> robbery, but don’t tale other economic factors into account, such as inflation)

• External Validity

do the results apply outside the study? (if it worked in one city, does it work in another?)

• Reliability

consistency. Are the results consistent over time/people?

• Triangulation

double checking with different methods. using multiple tools to study the same thing

• Campbell Collaboration

named in honor of the late Donald Cmapbell, a pioneer in research design, the purpose of the organization is to facilitate the preparation, maintenance, and accessibility of systematic program reviews.

• Evidence Based Research

Effective or successful programs are defined as evidence based/Attempt to base knowledge on evidence, “smart on crime” approaches/Helps policy makers/No

• Classic Experimental Design

o Equivalence

subjects are split into two groups (experimental and control) so they are basically the same. This can be done by randomly assigning people or by matching them on key traits (ex. age, income, gender, etc.)

o Pretests and posttests

if the two groups start out the same, then any difference we see afterward must be because one group got the treatment and the other did not

o Experimental and control groups

the experimental group gets the treatment while the control group does not—researchers then compare the two to see the effect

• Victim surveys

dark figure of crime

• Self-report measures of crime

attempt for provide alternative to official statistics, might overreport or underreport

• Surveys

Gather information by questionaries/Need only 1200 responses to speak for entire US

• Methodical narcissism

fanatical adherence to a particular research method, often at the expense o0f a concern for substance.

• Sources of crime statistics

UCR, NIBRS, NCVS

• NCVS

National Crime Victim Survey