Question 1

Imagine you read 30 articles on youth violence and you start to write your literature review. You know that you must discuss each article that you read.

Accepted Answer

In a literature review, you should synthesize and analyze the key findings and theories across articles, rather than discussing each article individually.

Question 2

Theoretical constructs refer to parts of a theory that describe what is important to look at to understand, explain, predict, and "do something about" the subject.

Accepted Answer

Theoretical constructs are indeed conceptual elements within theories that outline the key factors or components necessary to understand, explain, predict, or intervene in a particular phenomenon or subject area.

Question 3

We cannot test an idea fairly unless we use deductive reasoning, stating our expectations in advance and then designing a way to test the validity of our claims.

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning involves making predictions based on a general principle and then testing those predictions through observation or experimentation.

Question 4

A graduate student that began her study at the bottom of the research circle and worked upward, engaged in deductive research.

Accepted Answer

Deductive research starts with a hypothesis derived from existing theory and then designs a research strategy to test the hypothesis, which is the opposite of starting from observations and working upwards, which is indicative of inductive research.

Question 5

The research circle is really a spiral.

Accepted Answer

The research process is often depicted as a spiral because it involves iterative cycles of exploring, testing, and refining ideas, which can lead to revisiting and revising earlier stages based on new insights, thus making the process more akin to a spiral than a simple circle.

Question 6

In a hypothesis predicting the relationship between two variables, the direction of association can be either positive or negative.

Accepted Answer

In a hypothesis predicting the relationship between two variables, the direction of association indicates whether the variables move together in the same direction (positive association) or in opposite directions (negative association).

Question 7

One concern about inductive research is that it may not be generalizable.

Accepted Answer

Inductive research focuses on generating theories from specific observations, which may not always apply broadly to other contexts or populations, thus raising concerns about generalizability.

Question 8

Dr. Williams found that youth who participated in a program to reduce bullying in schools were less likely to bully or be bullied. The prevalence of bullying in youth was the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

The prevalence of bullying in youth, which Dr. Williams measured to assess the impact of the anti-bullying program, is the outcome or effect being studied, making it the dependent variable.

Question 9

A researcher using a theory that asserted feelings of real or perceived strain was associated with criminal activity developed a hypothesis and then carried out a research study. This research utilized deductive reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Deductive reasoning starts with a general theory or hypothesis and then tests it through specific observations or experiments, which is the approach described in the scenario.

Question 10

Hypotheses with a categorical independent variable simply state that one category of the independent variable is associated with higher (or lower) values of the dependent variable.

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses with a categorical independent variable often posit that different categories of the independent variable are associated with different levels of the dependent variable, implying that one category may have higher or lower values on the dependent variable compared to another.

Question 11

Reanalysis of data qualifies as inductive research, because the hypotheses were derived from theory and then tested with the data.

Accepted Answer

Reanalysis of data typically involves deductive research, where hypotheses derived from theory are tested against the data; inductive research, on the other hand, involves generating theories based on the observation of data.

Question 12

A research predicted that youth in a risk-reduction program were less likely to engage in criminal activity. The independent variable in this case was whether youth were in the risk-reduction program.

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable, in this case, whether or not the youth were in the risk-reduction program is the variable being manipulated to observe its effect on engagement in criminal activity.

Question 13

A variable can change, but a constant remains the same.

Accepted Answer

A variable is a storage location in programming that can hold different values throughout its lifetime, whereas a constant is a type of variable whose value cannot be changed once it has been assigned.

Question 14

One way to make sure that measurement validity is addressed is by creating clear definitions of what we intend to measure.

Accepted Answer

Clear definitions of what is intended to be measured help ensure that the measurement accurately reflects the concept being studied, thus addressing measurement validity.

Question 15

It is common practice to assume that results from a small sample of people from one community would be the same results among individuals in a different community.

Accepted Answer

Assuming results from a small sample of one community would be the same in a different community overlooks cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental differences that can significantly impact outcomes.

Question 16

"Battered women serve as experts of their own lives" is an example of authenticity.

Accepted Answer

This statement recognizes the unique, personal experiences and insights of battered women, valuing their firsthand knowledge and perspective on their situations, which aligns with the concept of authenticity.

Question 17

Generalizability is more concerned with validity of claims being made one group to another, whereas measurement validity is more concerned with what terms and definitions are used as measures in research.

Accepted Answer

Generalizability refers to the extent to which findings from one group or setting can be applied to others, focusing on the validity of applying these claims across different groups. Measurement validity, on the other hand, concerns the accuracy and appropriateness of the terms, definitions, and instruments used to measure concepts in research, ensuring that they actually measure what they are intended to measure.

Question 18

List and describe the three ways researcher's should evaluate their research questions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and describe the three ways researcher's...

Question 19

Define theory and theoretical constructs. Then describe the relationship between them. Provide one example of a theory and one of its theoretical constructs provided in the textbook.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define theory and theoretical constructs. Then describe...

Question 20

Define inductive and deductive reasoning. Then, indicate the type of reasoning is typically associated with quantitative and qualitative methods.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define inductive and deductive reasoning. Then, indicate...

Quiz 2: The Process and Problems of Research of Criminological Research