Essentials of Criminal Justice and Criminology Research Explanations and Exercises

by Lasley, James R.

• ISBN13: 9780130808998
• ISBN10: 0130808997
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-06-26
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This practical book strives to develop its readers into informed consumers of criminal justice-based research. It covers the essentials found in leading criminal justice and criminology research texts, but avoids their lengthy explanations and technical jargon. In their place, Lasley presents clear, to-the-point descriptions and illustrations of the techniques needed to determine the strengths and weaknesses of criminal justice and criminology research.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
1 MODULE The Scientific Method in Criminal Justice Research	1	(12)
The Scientific Method	1	(1)
Problem Identification	2	(1)
Theory Building	2	(1)
Hypothesis Formation	2	(1)
Hypothesis Testing	3	(1)
Specific and General Conclusions	3	(1)
A Note on Research Objectivity	3	(2)
Exercises	5	(8)
2 MODULE Applied vs. Basic Criminal Justice Research	13	(12)
Basic Research in Criminal Justice	13	(1)
Applied Research in Criminal Justice	14	(3)
Exercises	17	(8)
3 MODULE Library Resources and Literature in Criminal Justice	25	(16)
Academic Journals	25	(1)
The Peer Review Process	26	(1)
Books	27	(1)
Government Documents	27	(1)
Trade Journals	28	(1)
Reference Materials	28	(1)
Indexes	29	(1)
Citation Format	29	(1)
Journal	29	(1)
Book	30	(1)
Chapter in Edited Book	30	(1)
Government Document	30	(1)
Exercises	31	(10)
4 MODULE Putting the Scientific Method into Action	41	(12)
Independent and Dependent Variables	41	(1)
Variable Attributes	42	(1)
Directional Hypothesis and Relationships	42	(1)
Nondirectional Hypothesis	42	(1)
Operational Definitions	43	(2)
Exercises	45	(8)
5 MODULE Research Designs	53	(10)
The Importance of Research Designs	53	(1)
Reliability and Validity	53	(1)
Extraneous Variables	54	(1)
Types of Research Design	55	(1)
The Power of Research Designs	56	(1)
Cross Sectional vs. Longitudinal Studies	56	(1)
Exercises	57	(6)
6 MODULE The Criminal Justice Experiment	63	(18)
Components of the Experiment	63	(1)
Random Assignment	63	(2)
The Control Group	65	(1)
The Experimental Group	66	(1)
The Treatment	66	(1)
The Basic Experiment	66	(1)
Putting the Pieces Together	67	(4)
Blinded Experiments	71	(2)
Exercises	73	(8)
7 MODULE Quasi-Experiments and Time Series	81	(14)
What is a Quasi-Experiment?	81	(1)
Time Series Analysis and True Experiments	82	(2)
Internal Invalidity Issues	84	(2)
How to Protect Against Internal Invalidity	86	(1)
Nonequivalent Groups and Matching	86	(1)
Exercises	87	(8)
8 MODULE The Criminal Justice Nonexperiment	95	(14)
What are Nonexperimental Designs	95	(1)
The Value of Nonexperimental Designs: Description	96	(1)
The Hazards of Nonexperimental Designs: Causation	96	(1)
Spurious Effects and Intervening Variable Effects	97	(1)
Example One: Crime and the Moon	97	(1)
Example Two: Intervening Variable Effects	97	(2)
Path Models and Diagramming	99	(1)
What About Statistical Controls?	100	(1)
Exercises	101	(8)
9 MODULE Surveys, Part I: Asking Questions about Criminal Justice Issues	109	(14)
Survey Questions Must Relate to Your Hypothesis	109	(1)
How to Word Survey Questions	110	(5)
Exercises	115	(8)
10 MODULE Surveys, Part II: Providing Answers to Survey Questions	123	(12)
Open-ended Responses	123	(1)
Closed-ended Responses	124	(2)
Scales	126	(1)
How Many Points to Use	127	(1)
Responses to Difficult Questions	127	(2)
Exercises	129	(6)
11 MODULE Surveys, Part III: Putting Criminal Justice Surveys Together	135	(12)
Types of Surveys	135	(1)
Group Questions According to Common Themes	136	(1)
Ordering Questions Within Themes	137	(1)
The Ordering of Theme Categories	138	(1)
The Overall Appearance	139	(1)
Methods That Save Space	139	(1)
Filtering Questions	139	(2)
Exercises	141	(6)
12 MODULE Surveys, Part IV: Completing and Distributing Surveys	147	(12)
Packaging the Survey	147	(2)
Distributing the Survey	149	(1)
Posting Your Survey	150	(1)
A Note on Response Error	150	(3)
Exercises	153	(6)
13 MODULE Sampling	159	(14)
Introduction to Sampling	159	(1)
What is a Sample?	160	(1)
What is a Population?	160	(1)
Probability Sampling and Nonprobability Sampling	160	(1)
Random Selection and Probability Sampling	160	(1)
Methods of Probability Sampling	161	(3)
Sample Size	164	(1)
Exercises	165	(8)
14 MODULE Conducting Ethical Criminal Justice Research	173	(12)
Ethics and the Objectives of Criminal Justice Research	173	(1)
The Principles of Ethical Criminal Justice Research	174	(3)
A Note on Covert Research	177	(2)
Exercises	179	(6)
Research Abstracts	185	(4)
Intensive Probation Study	185	(1)
Interpersonal Distance Study	185	(1)
Climate and Assaultive Behavior Study	186	(1)
Prison Execution and Death Penalty Study	186	(1)
Reporting Mode Study	186	(1)
Drunk Driving Law Study	187	(1)
Prosecuting Attorney Study	187	(1)
Police Patrol Study	187	(1)
Drive-By Shooting Study	188	(1)
F.B.I. Agent Study	188	(1)
Index	189