4. What is the role of criminological research in theory building? What is a hypothesis? How can a hypothesis be tested? What is internal validity? External validity? How can threats to internal and external validity be addressed?
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The goal of criminological research is the construction or development of theories that help increase our understanding of criminal behavior. Research allows criminologists to test theories against the real world, and to revise the theories based on the results of the research.
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts and that can be tested by further investigation. A hypothesis may be tested through scientific research that involves first operationalizing the hypothesis, or putting it into a form that is testable, and making the concepts it contains measurable. Once that is done, the hypothesis can be tested by making observations and seeing whether the observations support the hypothesis.
There are two types of validity. Internal validity asks whether something other than the treatment could have produced the behavioral change. Most researchers consider internal validity the most vital component of any planned research. Threats to internal validity include history, maturation, testing, instrumentation, statistical regression, differential selection, and experimental mortality. External validity is the ability of researchers to generalize research results to other settings. Threats to external validity include the reactive effects of testing, self-selection, the reactive effects of experimental arrangements, and multiple-treatment interference. One of the best ways to control these threats is through the use of an experimental design.
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To make a killing either murder or manslaughter the victim must die within__________ and a day after the stroke received, or the cause of death administered, or the presumption that the death was not the result of such cause must be rebutted.
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a. True b. False
Frank wants his attorney present before he will answer any questions the detectives want to ask him. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution applies?
a. First b. Fourth c. Sixth d. Seventh