Deck 1: Science, Society, and Research Related to Crime, Criminology, and Social Control

Question 1

According to your textbook, which of the following is NOT an example of a factor present in illogical reasoning?

A) perspectives
B) reflection
C) biases
D) emotions

Answer 1

B

Question 2

We only interact with a small fraction of the social world, but we sometimes tend to assume that what we know to be true for some cases is true for all cases. This is an example of which type of error in reasoning your book discusses?

A) resistance to change
B) inaccurate observation
C) selective observation
D) overgeneralization

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Imagine that in class your criminology professor gave an example of a selective observation she saw in the field. Which of the following resembles the example she provided?

A) Her colleague believed that only youth who experienced trauma in childhood committed violence and this is how she interpreted the results of a survey she collected.
B) Her colleague believed that all boys engaged in vandalism and assumed that all the boys in her study engaged in vandalism too.
C) Her colleague jumped immediately to the conclusion that depictions of violence in media led to violence in all youth.
D) Her colleague found her data did not support one of her beliefs, but she still did not want to admit she was wrong.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Ego-based commitments and excessive devotions to traditions are representative of what type of error of reasoning?

A) resistance to change
B) overgeneralization
C) selective observation
D) inaccurate observation

Question 5

John told people that he felt that mental health was the only reason why school shootings occurred. Then a friend of his told him about research that found school shooters were influenced by other factors, and he still did not want to admit that he may be wrong. Which of the following represents his error of reasoning?

A) inaccurate observation
B) excessive devotion to tradition
C) selective observation
D) ego-based commitment

Question 6

Lynn assumed that because she felt that all teens were delinquents that her teen neighbor was also a delinquent. Which type of error reasoning is this?

A) inaccurate observation
B) excessive devotion to tradition
C) overgeneralization
D) selective observation

Question 7

Deborah was reluctant to change her ideas about causes of youth violence in light of new information because her grandfather believed strongly in those causes. Which of the following describes her error of reasoning the best ?

A) ego-based commitment
B) excessive devotion to tradition
C) uncritical agreement with authorities
D) selective observations

Question 8

Elijah made observations about causes of crime based on what his beliefs were. Based on the terms used in your textbook, what type of error in reasoning did Elijah exhibit ?

A) selective observation
B) inaccurate observation
C) illogical reasoning
D) uncritical agreement with authorities

Question 9

Social science research is different from pseudoscience because social science uses ______.

A) personal accounts
B) anecdotal evidence
C) the scientific method
D) public testimony

Question 10

Which of the following allows researchers to see if the same results from a previously published study can be reproduced?

A) subjectivity
B) objectivity
C) peer review process
D) transparency

Question 11

Doctors doing entry examinations in prisons to examine a new inmate's head for bumps or cavities to develop a criminal profile refers to which of the following?

A) parsimony
B) epistemology
C) phrenology
D) transparency

Question 12

Instead of relying on findings that are based on intuition, gut reactions, or our own experiences, what do criminologists use or do?

A) scientific method
B) pseudoscience
C) phrenology

Question 13

A graduate student recently found out that he has to submit his journal article to another journal. This means that he received a ______ during the peer review process.

A) acceptance
B) rejection
C) revise and resubmit

Question 14

A graduate student did not base her evidence on the principles of the scientific method and as such engaged in ______.

A) explanatory research
B) the peer review process
C) descriptive research
D) pseudoscience

Question 15

The ______ process occurs when a journal editor sends a submitted article to two or three experts who judge whether the paper should be accepted, revised and resubmitted, or rejected.

A) peer review
B) substantive review
C) transparency
D) error

Question 16

Whereas ______ relies on logical and systematic methods to answer questions, ______ produces dubious but fascinating claims that are touted as "scientifically proven."

A) transparency; science
B) science; epistemology
C) pseudoscience; science
D) science; pseudoscience

Question 17

When criminologists report on a crime-related topic, compared to reports from the media, which of the following is most likely true?

A) Criminologists base their report on anecdotal accounts whereas the media uses empirical evidence.
B) Criminologists use public testimonials whereas the media reports on evidence gained from systematic methods.
C) The media's reports tend to appeal to the public, whereas most criminologists are concerned with reporting facts.

Question 18

Which of the following research projects should NOT be considered descriptive research?

A) Dr. Smith studied the causes of bullying in schools and how bullying was related to substance use.
B) Erica, a graduate student, studied the most common types of crimes committed in schools.
C) Brad, a research assistant, studied how many youth are arrested for violent crimes each year.
D) A government agency examined the percentage of youth that are victims of violence.

Question 19

Which of the following is a reason why someone would choose exploratory research to examine youth violence in schools?

A) the desire to examine how individual- and school-level factors affect violence in schools
B) the need to evaluate the long-term effects of a program intended to reduce violence in schools
C) to determine the prevalence of youth violence in schools
D) to investigate a previously understudied issue related to school violence

Question 20

Tricia's research project in her community revealed that the unemployment rate was related to the crime rate. In which type of research did Tricia engage?

A) explanatory research
B) descriptive research
C) exploratory research
D) evaluative research

Question 21

Sara went into her research project without any a priori expectations. In which of the following types of research did she engage?

A) explanatory research
B) descriptive research
C) exploratory research
D) evaluative research

Question 22

According to your text, what is one way social scientists attempt to reduce potential sources of error in everyday reasoning?

A) rely on logical and systematic methods to answer questions
B) become aware of each type of error in reasoning
C) bolster their work with public testimonials
D) believe they are different from others that suffer from these errors

Question 23

Bob thought he saw seven people on a street corner, but in reality there were only five people. This is an example of which type of error in reasoning discussed in your text?

A) illogical reasoning
B) selective observation
C) inaccurate observation
D) overgeneralization

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT an example of resistance to change?

A) ego-based commitments
B) excessive devotion to tradition
C) uncritical agreement with authorities
D) selective observations

Question 25

Which of the following types of research would be used to answer this type research question: The relationship between youth violence and substance use-what is going on here ?

A) explanatory research
B) exploratory research
C) descriptive research
D) evaluative research

Question 26

Which of the following is an example of explanatory research?

A) a research project found that a program intended to reduce violence needed more financial support to carry out the project effectively
B) a researcher conducted intensive interviewers with research participants to explore an aspect about school shootings that had not been conducted before
C) a research project reported a higher prevalence of violence during certain ages than others
D) a researcher who found that teens who have witnessed violence in the past are more likely to be victims and/or perpetrators of violence in the future

Question 27

Eric, a graduate student, learned that a program to prevent violence was not working because it was not implemented the way it was intended. Eric engaged in what type of social science research?

A) exploratory
B) explanatory
C) evaluative
D) descriptive

Question 28

A graduate student is interested in understanding how many youth have engaged in a violent offense and at what age they committed the offense. Her advisor suggested that she engage in what type of social science research?

A) exploratory
B) explanatory
C) evaluative
D) descriptive

Question 29

The goal of a research project that resulted in a large amount of relatively unstructured information was most likely ______.

A) explanatory
B) exploratory
C) descriptive
D) evaluative

Question 30

Erica, a graduate student, wants to collect in-depth information on an individual's feelings, experiences, and perceptions. Which of the following would be the best method to achieve her goals?

A) participant observation
B) intensive interviewing
C) survey collection
D) content analysis

Question 31

Before two researchers collaborate on a project, they must achieve an intersubjective agreement. To what is this agreement referring?

A) the nature of reality
B) reliability
C) bias
D) social construction

Question 32

Which of the following are value orientations used in approaching research in criminology or criminal justice?

A) objectivity
B) participatory action research
C) subjectivity
D) interpretivism

Question 33

Unlike positivism or postpositivism, ______ is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of understanding the subjective meanings people give to reality.

A) interpretivism
B) objectivity
C) action research
D) critical theory

Question 34

When evaluating the efficacy of a program or policy, an ______ approach is often used.

A) descriptive
B) experimental
C) exploratory
D) explanatory

Question 35

Dr. Williams studies how structures and patterns in society influence her participant's interpretations of their reality and she uses her research as a way to challenge societal structures that reinforce oppression. Her research falls under ______.

A) intersubjective agreement
B) positivism
C) critical theory
D) interpretivist philosophy

Question 36

In our understanding of reality, positivism differs from postpositivism in all the following ways EXCEPT ______.

A) acknowledging its complexity
B) biases of researchers
C) their view on the nature of reality
D) limitations of the researchers

Question 37

What is the most common motive for employing qualitative research methods?

A) exploratory
B) explanatory
C) descriptive
D) evaluative

Question 38

A researcher examined newspapers to find out the amount of ads devoted to alcoholic beverages. Which type of research method did this researcher use?

A) crime mapping
B) secondary data analysis
C) survey instrument
D) content analysis

Question 39

Dr. Smith developed and sustained an intensive relationship with people while they went about their daily activities to engage in what type of field research?

A) experimental research
B) participant observation
C) intensive interviewing
D) survey collection

Question 40

Surveys can be either self-administered or read by an interviewer.

Question 41

Triangulation is useful when a researcher desires to take multiple perspectives into consideration to examine a phenomenon.

Question 42

Descriptive research is often used to explore details of a phenomenon that have not yet been studied.

Question 43

Evaluative research refers to identifying the causes and effects of a social phenomena.

Question 44

A research report that reported on the prevalence of youth and adult violence. This is an example of descriptive research.

Question 45

Research about social programs or interventions is exploratory research.

Question 46

A local news station argued that most criminals are bad people. This claim is most likely based off empirical research.

Question 47

In the 19th century, phrenology asserted that bumps and fissures of the skull determined the character and personality of a person, and today it still remains a valid field of study.

Question 48

Today's pseudoscience could be yesterday's science.

Question 49

Social science is the use of logical, systematic, documented methods to investigate individuals, societies, and social processes, as well as the knowledge produced by these investigations.

Question 50

A research assistant that assumed youth who were violent would continue to be violent in adulthood, only found research to support this belief. This was an example of inaccurate observation.

Question 51

Overgeneralization, selective or inaccurate observation, resistance to change, and illogical reasoning are all examples of errors in reasoning.

Question 52

Overgeneralization refers to when we draw conclusions about people and social processes from our own interactions with them.

Question 53

Illusory correlation is another word used for errors in reasoning.

Question 54

Jumping to premature conclusions is an example of an inaccurate observation.

Question 55

When researchers include dimensions of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, for example, they are engaging in culturally competent research.

Question 56

One activist approaches to research is participatory action research.

Question 57

A type of indirect measurement is content analysis.

Question 58

Name two common data sources with which criminologists conduct secondary data analysis.

Question 59

Describe two similarities between feminist research and research based on critical theory.

Question 60

Identify two subpopulations that researcher's pay attention to when conducting culturally competent research. Using these subpopulations, provide two reasons why paying attention to them is important in social science research.

Question 61

Imagine you are a criminological researcher interested in studying violence. Describe what in particular you are interested in learning. Then indicate which type of social science research you should employ and why.

Question 62

A program intended to reduce violence in schools, taught youth coping skills on how to deal with stress and negative emotions. While on the surface, it appeared to be successful, the school board would not continue funding the program unless an official evaluation was done. Using the knowledge you gained in Chapter 1 so far, can you identify two reasons why a formal evaluation of a program is important to the school board in deciding to continue funding it?

Question 63

Describe how science and pseudoscience differ from each other.

Question 64

Define the term transparency in social science research. Then provide why it is important for social science research.

Question 65

List and define the different types and subtypes of errors in reasoning listed in your textbook.

Question 66

Give an example of an overgeneralization. Then describe why this is an error in reasoning.

Question 67

Describe one of the errors in reasoning that you recently saw in the news.

Question 68

Explain qualitative and quantitative research methods and describe some of the common research motives for choosing to use qualitative or quantitative research methods. Then explain why some researchers use both methods to answer their research questions.

Question 69

Identify and define two categories of purposes for social scientific research. Then, provide an example of a common phenomenon explored in criminological research and how those two categories could be used to examine that phenomenon. Then, using this example, provide a brief overview of how they could be integrated together into one research project.

Question 70

A researcher wants to examine what factors related to predicting both youth delinquency and violence. First indicate what type of research would be needed to find out which factors predict both youth delinquency and violence. Then provide at least three research questions that could be asked.

Question 71

Describe how pseudoscience is related to common errors in reasoning: First choose two errors of reasoning you will discuss and then define them. Then, define pseudoscience. Last, describe how pseudoscience is related to those two errors in reasoning.

Question 72

Provide the similarities and differences between selective observations and inaccurate observations.