1.2 Discussion
lanny.wilson
Chapter1.ppt© 2014 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Class Name,
Instructor Name
Date, Semester
Hagan, Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology, 9/e
Chapter 1
Introduction to Criminal Justice Research Methods: Theory and Method
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Theory and Methods
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Critics of many applications of scientific research to the criminal justice system view such efforts as elucidation of the irrelevant, obscure jargonizing, or academic intimidation—a detailed elaboration of what any person with common sense knows.
Scientific Research in Criminal Justice
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- Many practitioners within criminal justice have met with repeated failure over the years because they relied upon only their common sense.
- Thus, millions of dollars have been spent on police patrol efforts that do not reduce crime, judicial practices that are widely perceived as unfair, rehabilitation programs that do not rehabilitate offenders, and countless other failures.
Common Sense and Nonsense
Theory and Methods
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- Much of what appears in this text as research methods in criminology and criminal justice is not unique to criminal justice, but is borrowed from the other social sciences and applied to criminal justice topics and examples.
- The techniques are applicable to a wide variety of areas and in that sense are excellent broad-based skills.
Theory and Methods
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The Emergence of Science and Criminal Justice
- Science: combines rational theoretical explanation with the scientific method.
- Replication: the repetition of experiments or studies utilizing the same methodology.
- Verification: confirmation of the accuracy of findings; attainment of greater certitude in conclusions through additional observations.
Theory and Methods
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Proper Conduct of Critical Inquiry
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Bayley (1978) offers three suggestions for improving criminal justice research:
- Research requires interdisciplinary efforts as well as the tackling of field-oriented, practical problems.
- Researchers should cease giving speeches to practitioners about the value of research and attack their practical concerns with a realistic appraisal of the error-proneness of any research endeavor.
- It is time to be done with “methodological narcissism,” methods for methods’ sake.
The Probabilistic Nature of Science
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Approaches to Theory and Method in Criminal Justice
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Theory and Methods
Methodology (methods)
Collection of accurate facts or data; attempt to address the issue of “what is”
Paradigm
A model or schema that provides a perspective from which to view reality
Theory
Plausible explanation of reality (why and how things occur)
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Pure (Basic) Research
Acquisition of knowledge
for science’s sake
Acquisition of knowledge
that contributes to the
scientific development
of a discipline
Applied Research
Research concerned
with solving or addressing
immediate policy
problems
vs.
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Theory and Methods
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© 2014 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
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- Quantitative Research: operationalization and numerical measurement of variables
- Qualitative Research: research for the purpose of developing “sensitizing concepts” and verstehen (understanding) rather than quantitative measurement
- Verstehen: Weber’s notion that the purpose of research is to gain a qualitative “understanding” of phenomena from the perspective of the subjects
- Historicism: the view of all social events as a distinct chronicle of unique happenings
- Scientism: the view that if one cannot quantitatively measure a phenomenon, it is not worth studying
Qualitative and Quantitative Research
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Dependent Variables
Outcome variable (Y), or the subject of study
Variables
Concepts that can vary or take on different numerical values; operationalized concepts
Operationalization
Definition of concepts on the basis of how they are measured; “I measured it by ______.”
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Researchese: The Language of Research
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Concepts
Abstract or symbolic tags placed on reality
Theory and Methods
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© 2014 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
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Dependent and Independent Variables
Independent Variables
- Predictor variable (X)
- Precedes in time and causes change in the dependent variable
Dependent Variables
- Outcome variable (Y)
- The subject of study
vs.
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Theories/Hypotheses
Theories
attempt to develop plausible explanations of reality.
Hypotheses
are specific statements or predictions regarding the relationship between two variables.
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Examples of the Research Process
Deduction
involves moving from a level of theory to a specific hypothesis.
Induction
entails inferring about a whole group on the basis of knowing about a case or a few cases.
vs.
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© 2014 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
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General Steps in Empirical Research in Criminal Justice
Theory and Methods
Conclusions, inter-pretations, and limitations
Analysis and presentation of findings
Data collection
Research design
Problem formulation
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Problem Formulation
Problem Formulation
The selection, identification, and specification of the research topic to be investigated
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© 2014 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Those who attack criminological or criminal justice research as being common sense often deceive themselves, substituting their own personal bias or ignorance for objective, scientific information.
Those concerned with good research should be objective, vigilant (for error), and sympathetic (because all research is infested with error).
The research process is a circular process: theory, hypothesis, research design, data-gathering, findings, and then back to theory.
The general steps in empirical research in criminal justice are problem formulation, research design, data collection methods, analysis/presentation of findings, and conclusions/interpretations/limitations.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
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