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Research Methods

Chapter 2: Research Methods in Criminology

CHAPTER OUTLINE

• Theory and Methodology
• The Research Enterprise of Criminology
• Who is Criminal?
• Official Police Statistics—The UCR
• Alternative Data-Gathering Strategies
• Validity, Reliability, and Triangulation

THEORY AND METHODOLOGY

• Theory addresses the questions of “Why?” and “How?”

• Methodology (methods) is concerned with “What is?”

• Both theory and methodology are crucial to the future of criminology.

• Methodology: Involves the collection and analysis of accurate data or facts.

• Some questions that might be asked by methodologists:
o How much crime is there?
o Who commits crime?

THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE OF CRIMINOLOGY

• Important considerations in criminological research:
o Objectivity
o Professional Integrity
o Ethics
• Code of ethics adopted by professional organizations.
• Examples of obligations:
• Fully report findings
• Acknowledge limitations of research

WHO IS CRIMINAL?

• What IS the population that we identify as “criminal”?

o Most agree: Career Criminals
• Others argue these are political prisoners

o Most Not all arrestees are guilty

o Not all criminals are caught

• It is important to define who we consider “criminal” for research purposes:

• Variable: A concept that has been operationalized or measured in a specific manner and that can take on different values.

• Operationalization: The process of defining concepts by describing how they are measured.

OFFICIAL POLICE STATISTICS—THE UCR

• Uniform Crime Report (UCR):
o Compiled by U.S. Dept. of Justice
• Published by F.B.I.

o Collected since 1930

o Data from police departments

o Primary source of crime rates for the media

o Participation by agencies is voluntary, but 97% of total national population covered by report

Part I Crimes: Index Crimes

Index Crimes: Major felonies that are believed to be serious, occur frequently, and be likely to...