CRM 1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Stamen, Human Behavior, Uniform Crime Reports
30 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Patterns of criminality and methods of gathering crime statistics. Criminological knowledge is based on science, a logical organized method of obtaining information through direct, systematic observation. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, information that is directly verifiable. A research methods is a strategy for systematically conducting research. Concepts are mental constructs that represents some part of the world, inevitably in a simplified form. Variables are concepts whose value changes from case to case. Operationalizing a variable is the process of developing the measure to be used in gauging a variable. Measurements requires reliability the quality of consistent measurement and validity the quality of measuring precisely what one intends to measure. Cause and effect is a relationship in which change in one variable causes change in anther. Correlation exists when two variables are related in some way. Human behavior is too complex to allow criminology to predict any individuals actions precisely.
