UCR crime data is reported broken down into how many parts?
a. one whole report
b. two parts
c. four different sections
d. three parts
When neither the subjects nor the researcher can identify which group is the control
group and which is the experimental group the design is said to be:
a. cross-sectional
b. double-blind
c. a blind experiment
d. of no value
Key elements in planning a research study include:
a. units of analysis
b. time dimension
c. causation
d. all are correct
Qualitative research is best explained through which of the following?
a. never theory generating
b. called a process of grounded theory
c. used to make the subjects comfortable
d. used to increase generalizability
Which of the following is an example of a concept?
a. height
b. peer group
c. weight
d. age
Policy analysis is used to:
a. help gather data
b. select an alternative course of action
c. produce an explanation
d. all of the above
What two qualities should every variable possess?
a. meaning and value
b. exhaustive and thorough
c. exhaustive and mutually exclusive
d. operational definition and meaning
Because field research is generally considered to be comprehensive in nature, it tends to
ensure the observations are more:
a. generalizable
b. reliable
c. valid
d. correct
Which of the following is accurate concerning data acquired during field research?
a. it is qualitative data that is easily reduced to numbers
b. it is quantitative data that is not easily reduced to numbers
c. it is qualitative data that is not easily reduced to numbers
d. all the data gathered must be reducible to numbers
When dealing with the conceptual problems that emerge from complex relationships
between different units of count, Maxfield and Babbie suggest:
a. defining individual people as units of analysis
b. following the paper trail
c. using systematic sampling
d. expecting the expected
When we do a study to determine why people have different opinions on the same
topic, what is the purpose for the study?
a. exploration
b. description
c. explanation
d. application
Which of the following would not be considered appropriate use for agency records?
a. explanatory studies
b. descriptive studies
c. applied research
d. experimental research
Which of the following statements is not accurate with respect to standard error?
a. standard error is a function of the size of the sample
b. standard error indicates how closely the findings fit the sample
c. standard error tells how sample statistics are dispersed around the population
parameter
d. standard error tells us that over one-third of all sample estimates will fall within one
standard error above the population parameter
Which type of research study project is designed to permit observations over an
extended period of time?
a. cross-sectional studies
b. latitudinal studies
c. longitudinal studies
d. proportional studies
According to your text, “theory driven” evaluations that consider how each element of a
program should affect its
targets should:
a. develop a micro model of the program production process
b. develop a vision statement that will be later used by the program staff
c. develop rigid measure of validity
d. define all inputs and outcomes as early as possible
The most frequent attribute, the can be reported from either grouped or ungrouped data.
With respect to levels of measurement which of the following is not correct?
a. a variable measured at the ratio level can also be measured at the ordinal level
b. a variable measured at the interval level can also be measured at the nominal level
c. a variable measured at the ordinal level can also be measured at the interval level
d. a variable measured at the ordinal level can also be measured at the nominal level
Recidivism is a term to represent a collection of unrelated phenomena that we have
either observed or heard about somewhere.
a. True
b. False
Lambda values vary from:
a. -1 – 1
b. -1 – 0
c. 1 -2
d. 0 – 1
Dr. Garcia wants to study migrant farm workers and how they move from one
agricultural job to another. In order to do this, Dr. Garcia will live and move with the
workers for one summer while they pick strawberries in Florida. What would increase
the impact and generalizability of his study?
a. speak only Spanish to the workers
b. live and work for one year since different parts of the country have different growing
and harvesting seasons
c. use every method to collect the data including videotaping the workers
d. nothing will make this study generalizable
When a researcher uses the term ‘silo databases” she is referring to:
a. when data is stacked in linear fashion
b. the communication link between local law enforcement and the FBI for the purposes
of submitting crime data
c. stacks of data that are isolated from each other
d. data that are stacked in round computer tape files stacked on each other
Which of the following represent special problems when giving a self-report
questionnaire to an incarcerated population?
a. inmates will admit to criminal acts they have not been charged with
b. inmates may be reluctant to admit committing crimes because of legal consequences.
c. inmates may have limited reading ability and that would influence their ability to
answer questions.
d. you may not have considered all the potential responses
As a general rule, the interviewer should dress in formal attire to do the interviewing.
a. True
b. False
One of the following is not accurate with respect to the construction of questionnaire
items. Which one is inaccurate?
a. use only questions, no statements
b. short items are the best
c. avoid negative items
d. avoid the temptation to ask questions in a manner that determines a specific answer
The bell-shaped curve is representative of:
a. standard deviations
b. standard error
c. the sampling distribution of a very large number of samples
d. sampling error
Grounded theory is used to describe the deductive method of theory construction.
a. True
b. False
In Widom’s research on child abuse discussed in your text, what was used as matching
criteria for the public school
records?
a. being born at the same hospital
b. having parents the same age
c. having the same number of siblings
d. being an outstanding student
The range is a measure of central tendency.
a. True
b. False
Betsie developed a definition of school bullying in such a way that this concept
represented what researchers in the field have come to agree upon as the concept’s
meaning. Betsie developed a/an:
a. conceptualization process
b. operational definition
c. real definition
d. nominal definition
Secondary analysis encompasses which of the following sources of criminal justice
data?
a. content analysis of agency records
b. UCR
c. self-reports
d. NCVS
Nonsystematic bias would be found in what type of validity problem?
a. internal validity
b. statistical conclusion validity
c. external validity
d. construct validity
What is an important consideration to think about when mailing questionnaires?
a. people don”t like to have their name and address associated with the answers they
give on a questionnaire
b. timing
c. people may not get their mail in time to return the questionnaire
d. people generally will not complete questionnaires
All but which of the following sampling techniques are appropriate for field research?
a. snowball sampling
b. purposive sampling
c. controlled probability sampling
d. non-probability techniques
Dr. Smith was interested in whether there would be a reduction in the number of crimes
in the central city once closed-circuit cameras went up and were monitored by police.
To accomplish this study Dr. Smith looked at the police records for the four square
block area where the cameras were installed each week for six months. Dr. Smith was
using what method?
a. cohort design
b. time-series design
c. classical experiment
d. quasi-experimental design
One purpose for measuring crime is to:
a. anticipate correctional facility populations
b. predict future crime trends
c. monitor potential threats to public safety and security
d. estimate the economic costs associated with crime