Week #1-
| research_methods_in_criminaljusticesp2014syllabus_complete.docx |
Scientific Inquiry
aggregate
Groups of units—people, prisons, courtrooms, or stolen autos, for example. Although criminal justice professionals are usually most concerned with individual units, social science searches for patterns that are reflected in aggregations of units. For example, a probation officer focuses on probation clients as individuals, whereas a social scientist focuses on groups of probation clients, or aggregates.
attributes
Characteristics of persons or things. See also variables.
deductive reasoning
A mode of inquiry using the logical model in which specific expectations of hypotheses are developed on the basis of general principles. Starting from the general principle that all deans are meanies, you might anticipate that your current one won’t let you change courses. That anticipation would be the result of deduction. See also inductive reasoning.
dependent variable
The variable assumed to depend on or be caused by another variable (called the independent variable). If you find that sentence length is partly a function of the number of prior arrests, then sentence length is being treated as a dependent variable.
empirical
From experience. Social science is said to be empirical when knowledge is based on what we experience.
grounded theory
A type of inductive theory that is based on (grounded in) field observation. The researcher makes observations in natural settings, then formulates a tentative theory that explains those observations.
idiographic
A mode of causal reasoning that seeks detailed understanding of all factors that contribute to a particular phenomenon. Police detectives trying to solve a particular case use the idiographic mode of explanation. Compare with nomothetic.
independent variable
An independent variable is presumed to cause or determine a dependent variable. If we discover that police cynicism is partly a function of years of experience, then experience is the independent variable and cynicism is the dependent variable. Note that any given variable might be treated as independent in one part of an analysis and dependent in another part of the analysis. Cynicism might become an independent variable in the explanation of job satisfaction.
inductive reasoning
Uses the logical model in which general principles are developed from specific observations. Having noted that teenagers and crime victims are less supportive of police than older people and nonvictims are, you might conclude that people with more direct police contact are less supportive of police and explain why. That would be an example of induction. See also deductive reasoning.
nomothetic
A mode of causal reasoning that tries to explain a number of similar phenomena or situations. Police crime analysts trying to explain patterns of auto thefts, burglaries, or some other offense use nomothetic reasoning. Compare with idiographic.
replication
Repeating a research study to test the findings of an earlier study, often under slightly different conditions or for a different group of subjects. Replication results either support earlier findings or cause us to question the accuracy of an earlier study.
theory
A theory is a systematic explanation for the observed facts and laws that relate to a particular aspect of life. For example, routine activities theory (see Cohen and Felson 1979) explains crime as the result of three key elements coming together: a suitable victim, a motivated offender, and the absence of capable guardians.
variables
Logical groupings of attributes. The variable gender is made up of the attributes male and female.
aggregate
Groups of units—people, prisons, courtrooms, or stolen autos, for example. Although criminal justice professionals are usually most concerned with individual units, social science searches for patterns that are reflected in aggregations of units. For example, a probation officer focuses on probation clients as individuals, whereas a social scientist focuses on groups of probation clients, or aggregates.
attributes
Characteristics of persons or things. See also variables.
deductive reasoning
A mode of inquiry using the logical model in which specific expectations of hypotheses are developed on the basis of general principles. Starting from the general principle that all deans are meanies, you might anticipate that your current one won’t let you change courses. That anticipation would be the result of deduction. See also inductive reasoning.
dependent variable
The variable assumed to depend on or be caused by another variable (called the independent variable). If you find that sentence length is partly a function of the number of prior arrests, then sentence length is being treated as a dependent variable.
empirical
From experience. Social science is said to be empirical when knowledge is based on what we experience.
grounded theory
A type of inductive theory that is based on (grounded in) field observation. The researcher makes observations in natural settings, then formulates a tentative theory that explains those observations.
idiographic
A mode of causal reasoning that seeks detailed understanding of all factors that contribute to a particular phenomenon. Police detectives trying to solve a particular case use the idiographic mode of explanation. Compare with nomothetic.
independent variable
An independent variable is presumed to cause or determine a dependent variable. If we discover that police cynicism is partly a function of years of experience, then experience is the independent variable and cynicism is the dependent variable. Note that any given variable might be treated as independent in one part of an analysis and dependent in another part of the analysis. Cynicism might become an independent variable in the explanation of job satisfaction.
inductive reasoning
Uses the logical model in which general principles are developed from specific observations. Having noted that teenagers and crime victims are less supportive of police than older people and nonvictims are, you might conclude that people with more direct police contact are less supportive of police and explain why. That would be an example of induction. See also deductive reasoning.
nomothetic
A mode of causal reasoning that tries to explain a number of similar phenomena or situations. Police crime analysts trying to explain patterns of auto thefts, burglaries, or some other offense use nomothetic reasoning. Compare with idiographic.
replication
Repeating a research study to test the findings of an earlier study, often under slightly different conditions or for a different group of subjects. Replication results either support earlier findings or cause us to question the accuracy of an earlier study.
theory
A theory is a systematic explanation for the observed facts and laws that relate to a particular aspect of life. For example, routine activities theory (see Cohen and Felson 1979) explains crime as the result of three key elements coming together: a suitable victim, a motivated offender, and the absence of capable guardians.
variables
Logical groupings of attributes. The variable gender is made up of the attributes male and female.
