Question 1

Valerie was interested in studying neighborhood anticrime organizations.She observed the activities of a neighborhood anticrime organization from the time of its inception until the time of its demise.Valerie's study was

Accepted Answer

Valerie's study followed the activities of the neighborhood anticrime organization over a period of time, from its inception until its demise. This type of study is typically known as a longitudinal study.

Question 2

Give a hypothetical situation that would lend itself to a cross-sectional study.What would be the research purpose in your hypothetical situation? Why would your example not lend itself to a longitudinal approach?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Give a hypothetical situation that would lend...

Question 3

Explain the difference between a necessary and a sufficient cause.Give an example of each from the criminal justice literature.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the difference between a necessary and...

Question 4

In his research,Gif examined whether people living in high-crime neighborhoods are more likely to have guns at home for protection than those living in low-crime areas.His unit of analysis was:

Accepted Answer

The unit of analysis in Gif's research was individuals, as he was interested in examining whether people living in high-crime neighborhoods were more likely to have guns at home for protection than those living in low-crime areas.

Question 5

Basing conclusions on the statistical relationship between two variables in a study with a less-than-ideal number of cases may compromise:

Accepted Answer

Basing conclusions on the statistical relationship between two variables in a study with a less-than-ideal number of cases may compromise statistical conclusion validity. Statistical conclusion validity refers to the extent to which conclusions about the relationship among variables based on the analysis of data are accurate and reasonable. When there are too few cases in a study, the statistical power may be low, which means that the results may be unreliable or inconclusive. As a result, researchers may make erroneous conclusions about the relationship between variables, compromising statistical conclusion validity.

Question 6

Ruth wanted to study the educational histories of inmates at prison.She interviewed prisoners on their involvement in school and academic performance.Ruth was conducting which type of research?

Accepted Answer

Ruth was conducting retrospective research, which involves collecting data on past events or experiences. She interviewed prisoners about their past educational histories, which would be classified as retrospective research. Longitudinal research involves collecting data over a long period of time, panel research involves studying the same individuals over multiple time points, and cohort research involves analyzing data from a group of individuals who share a common characteristic (such as age or education level).

Question 7

Describe the three criteria for causality.Give an example of each using the same hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the three criteria for causality.Give an...

Question 8

Key elements in planning a research study include:

Accepted Answer

All of the listed key elements, including units of analysis, time dimension, and causation, are important in planning a research study. Each of these elements helps to shape the research question, design, and methodology, as well as the interpretation of the data collected.

Question 9

Another word for an exploratory research study is:

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional research studies are typically conducted as exploratory research studies where data is gathered from a sample of individuals at a specific point in time. This type of study is used to gather initial insights and generate hypotheses for future research. Longitudinal studies are used to examine changes over time, correlational studies examine the relationship between variables, and double-blind studies are used to reduce bias in experimental research.

Question 10

Of the following,which time-dimension design is the most likely to be used for descriptive purposes:

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional designs involve collecting data at a single point in time, making them ideal for descriptive purposes as they provide a snapshot of a particular population or phenomenon at a specific moment. This design is often used in research studies that aim to describe the prevalence or characteristics of a specific population or behavior. Therefore, A is the best choice for descriptive purposes.

Quiz 4: General Issues In Research Design