CRJU 3410 1st Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture I. Intro to CourseOutline of Current Lecture I. What is a Theory?II. Three Elements of a Theorya. Conceptsb. Definitions of Conceptsc. Propositions III. Propositionsa. Implied Relationshipb. Must be testable IV. Theoretical StatementsV. Assumptions VI. Metaphysical Assumptions a. Ontological b. Cosmological VII. Testing Theoriesa. Explanatory power VIII. How are theories tested?a. Verificationb. FalsificationIX. Problems of Theory TestingX. Defining Crime a. Deviance vs Breaking Law XI. Problems Defining Crimea. Social Definitionb. Legal Definition Current LectureI. What is a Theory?a. “an attempt to make sense of a real world occurrence, an explanation in the formof a highly organized statement based on systematic observations about the phenomenon or class of phenomenon under study” These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.b. BASICALLY, it’s a systematic statement c. For criminological theory, we want to know what about society would cause someone to commit a crime II. Three Elements of a Theory: Concepts, Definitions of Concepts, and Propositionsa. Concepts: the point of the theory, pretty muchb. Definitions of concepts: try and define that pointi. Nominal: the “dictionary” definition, so to speakii. Operational: testable definition; specifics of what is being measured c. Propositions: assertionsi. Written as theoretical statements (relationships) of the concepts. III. Propositions a. Implied Relationshipi. Linear: positive or negative (as one goes up, other goes up; vice versa)ii. No Relationship: null hypothesisiii. Curvilinear: changes when it hits a certain threshold (bell curve)b. Must be testablei. If its not testable, its probably an ideology or theology1. Ideology: either believe it or don’t based on your reasons2. Theology: ideology that originates in a spiritual entity IV. Theoretical Statements a. The way most propositions are writtenb. Best understood as “if-then” statementsi. If “A”, then “B”c. Dependent variables versus independent variables i. If “IV”, then “DV”ii. Crime is usually always the DV in this course. V. Assumptions: The Foundation of a Theorya. Theory’s Core Belief System is not tested; either believe or don’t. b. Ethical (normative): good/ bad. Right/wrong. Etc. c. Epistemological: how knowledge is obtainedi. Most believe through observation and reason d. Metaphysical: what is the nature of realityVI. Metaphysical Assumptionsa. Ontological Assumptions: Free Will vs. Determinism and Human Naturei. Soft determinism is combination of free will and determinismii. Human Nature says born bad, born good, or tabula rasa (blank slate)1. Blank slate argument is nurture based. b. Cosmological Assumption: Nature (basis) of Society i. Consensus: people do not dispute definitions of right and wrongii. Pluralist: people cluster around groups and the groups don’t agreeiii. Conflict: diverse groups at odds and competing for power and positionVII. Testing Theoriesa. Explanatory Power (Ability to explain and Predict crime)i. Breadth (scope): Explain a large rangeii. Comprehensiveness: include all possible variables iii. Precision: ability to specify the operation, form, and explaining what the relationship doesiv. Depth: how/why has the relationship happened?v. Generalizability: can test anywhere and retestVIII. How Theories are Testeda. Verification: confirmation of propositions predicted relationshipi. Impossible to say something scientifically or positively causes crimeb. Falsification: disproving through use of negative examples c. Basically, a theory can never truly be proveni. Always risk of spuriousness: having a 3rd variable IX. Problems of Theory Testinga. Correlation versus Causation b. Correlation: ties two measures of events togetherc. Causation: anything that produces an eventi. Cause must precede the effectii. Cause and effect must be correlatediii. No third variable can be the cause of the observed relationship between the two variables you are interested in (no spurious) d. The Tautological Trap: when the variable and its cause are indistinguishable e. No/confusing operational definitions: crime as an outcome can have definitional problems X. Defining Crime: A vs Ba. Engaging in Deviancei. Broadest, social definition, violate normsb. Breaking the Law i. Legal definition, narrower, less ambiguous XI. Problems Defining Crimea. Social Definitioni. Vary from group to groupii. Subject to interpretationiii. Change from time to time and place to placeb. Legal Definition i. Overcriminalization: technically illegal but should be (like victimless crimes)ii. Nonenforcmentiii. Undercriminalization: should be illegal but