IntroductionResearch in CJResearchErrors in observationPolitics and CJSocial patternsIdiographicVariablesSlide 9ReasoningTypes of dataCrime rates in the USBasis for comparisonComparisonPolicy implicationsImplicationsIntroductionIntroductionCJ601CJ601Research in CJResearch in CJConsuming vs. producing researchConsuming vs. producing researchEvaluating research—see example p. Evaluating research—see example p. 4-54-5KnowledgeKnowledge——agreement, common senseagreement, common sense crime victimization and the elderlycrime victimization and the elderly punishment severity and punishment severity and deterrencedeterrenceResearchResearchKnowledge that is the result of Knowledge that is the result of empirical researchempirical researchEmpirical—based on systematic Empirical—based on systematic observationobservationExample: Differential associationExample: Differential associationErrors in observationErrors in observationInaccurate observationInaccurate observationOvergeneralizingOvergeneralizingSelective observationSelective observationAdolescent sex offenders and planning Adolescent sex offenders and planning skills—more complicated than skills—more complicated than thoughtthoughtIllogical reasoningIllogical reasoningSuperstition, gambler’s fallacySuperstition, gambler’s fallacyPolitics and CJPolitics and CJControversy over crimeControversy over crime““Liberals” vs. “conservatives”Liberals” vs. “conservatives”Death penaltyDeath penaltyRacial profiling Racial profiling War on DrugsWar on DrugsGuns and crimeGuns and crimePrisons as country clubsPrisons as country clubsSocial patternsSocial patternsSearch for regularitiesSearch for regularitiesExample: most common pattern is that Example: most common pattern is that males kill males, least common pattern is males kill males, least common pattern is female-femalefemale-femaleCrime in the US tends to be intraracialCrime in the US tends to be intraracialThere are exceptions to the patternsThere are exceptions to the patternsThe pattern tells us what is more The pattern tells us what is more commoncommonProbabilities (odds, percentages for ex)Probabilities (odds, percentages for ex)IdiographicIdiographicIdiographic vs. nomotheticIdiographic vs. nomotheticIdiographic—a case study, for exampleIdiographic—a case study, for exampleCharles MansonCharles MansonSerial killersSerial killersMight thoroughly explain a caseMight thoroughly explain a caseNomothetic—try to explain a class of Nomothetic—try to explain a class of events. There will be exceptions or events. There will be exceptions or cases that don’t fitcases that don’t fitVariablesVariablesAttributes are characteristics, quality Attributes are characteristics, quality we might use to describe someonewe might use to describe someoneVariables are logical groupings of Variables are logical groupings of attributesattributesGender—variable, attributes are male Gender—variable, attributes are male and femaleand femaleUnemployed, work part time, work full Unemployed, work part time, work full time are attributes of employment time are attributes of employment statusstatusVariablesVariablesSentence might be the variable, Sentence might be the variable, attributes could include fine, probation, attributes could include fine, probation, jail, prisonjail, prisonIndependent and dependent variablesIndependent and dependent variablesOne variable (IV) has an effect on One variable (IV) has an effect on another (DV)another (DV)Does level of supervision (IV) affect Does level of supervision (IV) affect delinquency (DV)?delinquency (DV)?Other examples?Other examples?ReasoningReasoningInductive: specific to the general, Inductive: specific to the general, observations to patternobservations to patternDurkheim (father of sociology)Durkheim (father of sociology)Deductive: testing a general ideaDeductive: testing a general ideaSocial capital and crimeSocial capital and crimePeer pressure and crimePeer pressure and crimeTypes of dataTypes of dataQualitative—descriptiveQualitative—descriptiveInterviews and observationsInterviews and observationsQuantitative—measuring in terms of Quantitative—measuring in terms of numbersnumbersQualitative “religious”Qualitative “religious”Quantitative—church attendance, Quantitative—church attendance, amount of time reported praying, amount of time reported praying, reading religious works, etc, self-ratings, reading religious works, etc, self-ratings, ratings of othersratings of othersCrime rates in the USCrime rates in the USRise beginning in the late 1950sRise beginning in the late 1950sContinuing into the mid 1980s, Continuing into the mid 1980s, began to level off, with some began to level off, with some increase into the 1990sincrease into the 1990sDeclines in the 1990s to the presentDeclines in the 1990s to the presentNYC, decline in homicide by 2/3 from NYC, decline in homicide by 2/3 from early 1990s to 2002early 1990s to 2002Why? Why?Basis for comparisonBasis for comparisonGeneral decline in crime in the US, General decline in crime in the US, not just New York citynot just New York cityInternational comparisons: crime also International comparisons: crime also increased and decreased in other increased and decreased in other industrialized nations, even though industrialized nations, even though rates vary from country to country, rates vary from country to country, and our violent crime rates are higherand our violent crime rates are higherWhy? Why?ComparisonComparisonComparisons force us to look at Comparisons force us to look at various possibilities that might not various possibilities that might not otherwise be consideredotherwise be consideredEx: Comparisons of crime rates and Ex: Comparisons of crime rates and incarceration rates, by state or with incarceration rates, by state or with other countriesother countriesEx: guns and crimeEx: guns and crimePolicy implicationsPolicy implicationsCrime more common among the Crime more common among the young, declines with ageyoung, declines with ageSupported by all 3 measures of crimeSupported by all 3 measures of crimeInterviews of offendersInterviews of offendersLongitudinal studiesLongitudinal studiesCommon pattern, some