Which of the following is true concerning independent and dependent variables in
classical experiments?
a. a variable can be an independent in one experiment and a dependent in another
b. once a variable is designated as an independent variable in one experiment, it can
never be used as a dependent variable in another
c. a classical experiment examines the effect of a dependent variable on an independent
variable
d. an independent variable in a classical experiment is viewed as the effect because it is
dependent upon another variable
One good indicator of crime seriousness is harm to the crime victim.
a. True
b. False
Conclusions drawn about the relationships among concepts, based on the logical
interrelationship among the axioms is:
a. a law
b. a proposition
c. an axiom
d. a statement
If the number of subjects in a program is small, statistical tests can detect only very
large program effects of differences in outcome measures between the two groups. This
illustrates the problem of:
a. generalizability
b. statistical conclusion validity
c. maturation
d. reliability
The central features of what experiment type include (1) independent and dependent
variables, (2) pretesting and posttesting, and (3) experimental and control groups
created through random assignment?
a. casual experiments
b. statistical experiments
c. classical experiments
d. cardinal experiments
A clarification probe is used in order to:
a. better understand unclear material
b. push participants further
c. change a line of questioning
d. in structured interviews only
The independent variable in a classical experiment must be a ratio level variable.
a. True
b. False
All the information a researcher logs in the context of the qualitative interview is
known as the:
a. qualitative data bank
b. memo
c. data log
d. audit trail
Graduates majoring in criminal justice and graduates majoring in psychology from the
State University were part of a study to assess employment success of those receiving
their degrees in May 2002. Six months after graduation a questionnaire was sent out
asking about their job seeking success. What type of design is this?
a. a double-blind experiment
b. a non-equivalent groups design
c. a time-series design
d. a cohort design
Which of the following cannot be studied scientifically?
a. physical attributes of humans
b. the purpose of life
c. changes in the number of elephants in the wild
d. astronomy
Which of the following would a researcher be least likely to use randomized designs?
a. program evaluation studies
b. ex-post evaluations
c. victim centered studies
d. time-series designs
If a researcher uses only those subjects who volunteer for a study, then which of the
following may result?
a. non-volunteers feel left out
b. the results could not be generalized to a larger group of people
c. no one would be interested in the outcome because non-volunteers are not included
d. none of the above
Professor White asked his students to put the number of hours each studied for the final
exam on a piece of paper and turn that paper in with the exam. The pieces of paper
indicate that students studied 10, 3, 4, 25, 1, 4, 4, 12, 6, 8 and 10 hours. What is the
modal number of hours studied? What is the median number of hours studied?
a. 4
b. 6
c. 5
d. 10
The relationship between process evaluations and impact assessments can be stated as:
a. impact assessments must precede process evaluations
b. impact assessments answer questions about program effects while process
evaluations monitor a program’s
implementation
c. only process evaluations can be used to determine if a program is effective
d. all of the above
A great place to start when conducting a literature review is:
a. a scholarly journal
b. a previous research study
c. a library
d. a data software program
Semi-structured interviews are helpful when:
a. there is no other choice of interview technique
b. gang members are being interviewed
c. two or more people are doing the interviewing
d. a variety of interview questions are needed
What is the science of knowing?
a. methodology
b. entomology
c. modality
d. epistemology
Deception of human subjects is never appropriate.
a. True
b. False
The UCR accounts for all types of crime, even those crimes that are not observed.
a. True
b. False
Memoing is the process of:
a. taking notes during research
b. writing notes about the research process from beginning to end
c. challenging ones conceptions of data
d. recording field notes
Characteristics or qualities that describe an object are known as:
a. variables
b. attributes
c. descriptions
d. objectives
Joseph Maxwell identified “how credible and believable it is” as one criterion for
assessing an idiographic
explanation.
a. True
b. False
When reading a table for bivariate analysis that displays percentages of some attributes,
what is the rule of thumb for reading the table?
a. if it adds up to 100% the statistics are accurate
b. if the table is percentaged down, read across and if the table is percentaged across,
read down
c. if the table is percentaged down, read down and if the table is percentaged across,
read across
d. none of the above
Validating an individual measure to compare it with alternative measures of the same
concept is known as:
a. content validity
b. multiple measures
c. construct validity
d. criterion-related validity
What method is known as the science of finding out?
a. epistemology
b. methodology
c. observations
d. data gathering
Which of the following is an example of subjectivity?
a. which rap singer do you like the best
b. what was your score on your first research methods exam
c. did Judge Wilson have more mistrials than Judge Hughey
d. how much tuition does your university charge for full time students
In general, whenever researchers are concerned that measures obtained through coding
may not be classified reliably, they should:
a. have each measure independently coded by different people
b. not obtain measures through coding
c. perform split-half method test
d. perform an interrater reliability test
A questionnaire contained the item ‘social class” with responses of lower class, lower
middle class, middle class, upper middle class, upper class. The researcher asks
respondents to check the one that describes them. The researcher is using this question
to measure:
a. direct observables
b. indirect observables
c. constructs
d. nominal variables
Which of the following is appropriate for gaining access to criminal justice subcultures
such as active criminals, deviants, or juvenile gangs?
a. letters
b. phone calls
c. formal meetings
d. use of a sponsor
True or “classical” experiments differ from quasiexperiments with respect to the fact
that
a. classical experiments use random assignment to control and experimental groups
while quasi-experimental designs do not
b. classical experiments use experimental groups while quasi-experimental designs use
experimental and control groups
c. quasi-experimental designs afford more control than do classical designs
d. only one independent variable can be used in a classical experiment, while there are
no limits to the number of independent variables in a quasi-experimental design
The type of field observation that most closely matches a survey is:
a. a structured observation
b. unstructured observation
c. sampling
d. coded observation
It is often said that in evaluation research, the research questions may already be
formulated. Which of the following is an example of that?
a. in problem analysis usually there is a wide range of alternative choices
b. in process evaluation the focus is on whether specified goals are attained
c. in impact assessments the evaluation is on whether specified goals are attained
d. with the questions already formulated it decreases the amount of involvement for the
researcher
Face-to-face interviews are best for complex questions and other specialized needs.
a. True
b. False
What are the two major types of applied research?
a. evaluation and problem analysis
b. evaluation and policy analysis
c. application and policy analysis
d. problem and policy analysis
In relationship to the qualitative interviews, field notes should be written:
a. during the interview
b. weeks later
c. prior to the interview
d. promptly after completing the interview