SPEA-J - Public And Environmental Affairs SPEA-J 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Cesare Beccaria, Deterrence Theory, Mechanical And Organic Solidarity
25 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
Criminological theories are a smaller part of the endeavor that focuses on nonconformity & social control. Science assumptions: the world exists, we can know the world, we can know the world through our senses. Social science assumptions: social behavior is a fact, there are patterns in social behavior, we can make predictable generalizations about patterns. Theories are tentative and temporary answers, that present concepts or ideas relevant to these answers, of which these concepts & ideas are testable & in being tested are capable of being refuted. Theory: systematic explanation for observed facts that describe and predict. Concepts: abstract elements that rep a phenomena (peer group, commitment) Scientific method: formulate a question, hypothesis: question that is falsifiable, prediction, find a way to predict it, analysis. A theory is good when it"s logical, scope, parsimony, & empirical support. Research methods: experiment, survey, observation, available date o. Functionality if something exists, we need to find out its purpose.
