CRIM 220 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Critical Role, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Burglary
18 Jan 2017
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Evolution of social science - brought greater emphasis on systematic explanation & move away from earlier emphasis on description. Political scientists not focus on explaining political behaviour rather than describing political institutions. Research on causes of crime & effects of cj policy has supplemented previous emphasis on describing strategies for police investigation/corrections management. Cj research often examines questions that cannot be easily reduced to scientific measures. 3 key aspects of overall scientific enterprise. Scientific theory deals w/ logical aspect of science. Data analysis looks for patterns in what is observed. Social scientific theory has to do w/ what is, not what should be. Means scientific theory cannot settle debates on value/worth. Social science can only agree to things in terms of agreed-on criteria. People seldom able to agree on criteria for determining issues of value. Social science can assist us in knowing only what is & why.
