CRM 1300 Lecture Notes - Thomas Theorem, Clearance Rate, General Social Survey
25 Oct 2013
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Document Summary
Criminological knowledge is based on science, a logical organized method of obtaining information through direct, systematic observation (as opposed to journalism). Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, information that is directly verifiable. A research method is a strategy for systematically conducting research. Measurement requires reliability (the quality of consistent measurement) and validity (the quality of measuring precisely what one intends to measure) Relationships among variables: cause and effect is a relationship in which change of one variable causes change in another. No lurking variables: law: if something happens often enough that it can be predicted, correlation exists when two (or more) variables are related in some way. Human behaviour is too complex to allow criminology to predict any individual"s actions precisely. Because humans respond to their surroundings, the mere presence of researcher may affect the behaviour being studied. Social patterns change constantly; what is true in one time or place may not hold in another.
