CCJS300 Exam I Text Review Guide CHAPTER 1 THE EMERGENCE OF SCIENCE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Knowledge is what people create symbolically to represent Feebleminded were locked up because feeblemindedness Methods change over time What we thought was wise may August Comte reality causes crime be ignorant in the future o progression of knowledge as being one from predominantly theological or supernatural explanations of reality to metaphysical or philosophical ones and finally to scientific approaches Science combines rational theoretical explanation with the scientific method empiricism and experimentation o Emphasized observation measurement replication and verification checking on validity of observations Replication the repetition of experiments or studies utilizing the same methodology Verification confirmation of the accuracy of findings attainment of greater certitude in conclusions through additional observations THE PROBALISTIC NATURE OF SCIENCE Criminologists assume that their subject matter is probalistic the effects will most often occur when certain causes are present but not in every single case In predicting general patterns trends researchers to not intend to show a relationship in each individual case or establish absolute determinism PROPER CONDUCT OF CRITICAL INQUIRY research Bayley offers three suggestions for improving criminal justice o 1 Research requires interdisciplinary efforts as well as the tackling of field oriented practical problems o 2 Researchers should cease giving speeches to practitioners about the value of research and attack their practical concerns with a realistic appraisal of error proneness of any research endeavor narcissism methods for methods sake o 3 It is time to be done with methodological methodological narcissism fanatical adherence to a preferred method at the expense of substance view that there is one and only one way of doing research that is by employing the one best method Hirschi and Selvin o Objectivity value neutrality or a dispassionate approach to the subject matter that holds constant personal bias eliminate error o Vigilance a concern for accuracy and efforts to o The only perfect research is no research o Empathy willingness to put oneself I the role of the o Error is omnipresent researcher Quantitative Research concepts are assigned numerical Qualitative Research concepts are viewed as sensitizing The First Legacy values ideas or terms that enhance our understanding observational approach and suggests that the physical and social sciences are distinct entities reflects a historical intuitive or o Emphasizes a qualitative approach Verstehen Weber s notion that the purpose of research is to gain a qualitative understanding of phenomena from the perspective of the subjects sensitizing ideas o a natural science approach is often used to describe the second legacy a quantitative approach and is concerned with measuring social or criminal justice reality Historicism o Seeing all social events as a distinct chronicle of unique happenings extremely qualitative Positivism QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH Scientism extreme positivism o View that if one cannot quantitatively measure a phenomenon it is not worth studying extremely quantitative GENERAL STEPS IN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 1 Problem formulation review selection and specification 2 Research design type of experimental or non of the area to be investigated experimental approach studies of a group at one time over a period of time and use of control groups 3 Data collection methods choice of a variety of methods such as observation reanalysis of existing data questionnaires and interviews reporting and statistically analyzing where appropriate and presenting findings 5 Conclusions interpretations and limitations what the researcher believes the study has to say 4 Analysis and Presentation of Findings summarizing CHAPTER 2 THE RESEARCHER S ROLE the role of the researcher requires that one be objective and value free in approaching and reporting on the subject matter the researchers primary role is that of a scientist o however researcher should determine limits priorities and subject accountability ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH The application of these principles and recommendations must be tailored to the needs of each individual research project according to the unique conditions that surround it DHEW Guidelines for Protection of Human Subjects the most important source of guidance for ethical research in the United States Since 1980 its been the DHHS HISTORY OF FEDERAL REGULATION OF RESEARCH Institutional Review Boards o Research screening committees set up in colleges and universities to oversee the ethical research standards o 1 A fair explanation of the procedures to be followed Original DHEW guidelines for obtaining informed consent and their purposes including identifications of any experimental procedures o 2 A description of any attendant discomforts and risks that can be expected o 3 A description of any benefits reasonably to be expected o 4 A disclosure of any appropriate alternative procedures that might be advantageous to the subject o 5 An offer to answer any inquiries concerning the procedures o 6 Instruction that the person is free to withdraw consent and discontinue participation at any time without prejudice to him or her informed Consent o agreement of subjects to participate in research after they have been briefed Six Paradoxes of Consent applied to fieldwork o 1 Many people may be semiliterate and not used to o 2 Many will distrust a situation requiring their o 3 Consent of subjects is a continual process dependent o 4 Knowing nothing of ethnography they have no basis o 5 Ethnography involves observation and discussion o 6 Fieldwork is an evolving process thus the subjects of legal speech of forms endorsement of a piece of paper on mutual learning and evolution upon which to decide to give or not give consent and not a rationalistic priori analysis investigation are likely to shift during the course of a study THE BELMONT REPORT Recommended looser standards for informed consent in field 3 basic principles research o principle of respect for persons individuals treated as autonomous agents realized through informed consent o principle of beneficence possible benefits maximized and potential harm minimized o principle of justice both the benefits and burdens of research be distributed equitable through the selection of subjects