CCJS 300 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Critical Inquiry, Crime Analysis, The Paradigm Shift

• School: University of Maryland
• Department: Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Course: CCJS 300
• Professor: Alan Lehman

Document Summary

If people agree with findings, they consider them obvious, if they disagree, they view them as unscientific because common sense told them so. Common sense explanation is a rival to science. Research methods provide the tools necessary to approach issues in criminal justice from a more rigorous standpoint and enable a venture beyond options based solely on nonscientific observations and experiences. Science: combines rational and theoretical explanation with the scientific method. Scientific method emphasizes observation, measurement, replication, and verification. Replication: repetition of experiments or studies utilizing the same methodology. Verification: confirmation of the accuracy of findings; attachment of greater certitude in conclusions through additional observations. Researchers believe that effects will most often occur when certain causes are present, but not in every single case. Researchers attempt to estimate the probability of their predictions being accurate. Research requires interdisciplinary efforts as well as the tackling of field-oriented practical problems.