Test Bank 1
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Theoretical Criminology: An Introductory Overview [page 79] Chapter 2 Classical and Neoclassical Criminology [page 89] Chapter 3 Biosocial Theories of Crime [page 99] Chapter 4 Psychological Theories of Crime [page 109] Chapter 5 The Social Ecology of Crime [page 119] Chapter 6 Learning and Cultural Transmission Theories of Crime [page 128] Chapter 7 Strain Theories of Crime [page 138] Chapter 8 Control Theories of Crime [page 147] Chapter 9 Theories of Social Conflict [page 157] Chapter 10 Evaluating and Integrating Theory [page 167] Answer Key [page 144] 2
Chapter 1 Multiple Choice CHAPTER 1 Theoretical Criminology: An Introductory Overview 1. How is criminology different from criminal justice science as a field of study? a. Criminology, by definition, is focused on the making of and breaking of laws. b. Criminologists have less disagreements among themselves. c. Criminal justice is less focused on finding solutions to the crime problem. d. Criminal justice always defines criminal behavior differently. Answer: A Objective: The role of criminology in the field Page number: 1 2. Contemporary criminology began during what time period? a. The time of ancient Babylonia b. The Code of Hammurabi time period c. The late 18 th century age of Enlightenment d. The late 20 th century Answer: C Objective: History of criminology Page number: 2 3. Which philosophers emphasized free will over blind faith and superstition? a. Rousseau b. Voltaire c. Locke d. All of the above Answer: D Objective: History of criminology Page number: 2 4. What type of justice system existed prior to an emphasis on reasoning in the evolution of criminology? a. Communal warfare 3
b. Family-revenge model c. Paid policing model d. International law Answer: B Objective: Ancient times of crime Page number: 2 5. Which group believed that isolation, labor, and Bible reading would result in repentance, or rehabilitation? a. The ancient Babylonians b. Philosophers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke c. Those early Americans who held the Salem Witch Trials d. Philadelphia Quakers Answer: D Objective: History of criminology Page number: 3 6. Which historical legacy of the Classical School continues to push for the achievement of deterrence as an objective of the criminal justice system? a. Neoclassicism b. The Enlightenment c. Positivism d. Determinism Answer: A Objective: Classical school Page number: 4 7. Which of the following is an example of a principle underlying the concept of deterrence? a. Certainty b. Severity c. Celerity d. All of the above Answer: D Objective: Deterrence theory Page number: 4 4
8. Determinism takes the position that human behavior may be caused by biological, psychological, and/or factors. a. spiritual b. environmental c. labor market d. decision making Answer: B Objective: Assumptions of criminology theories Page number: 4 9. During what time period did the Chicago School begin to influence criminological thought? a. 1880 1889 b. 1900 1919 c. 1920 1940 d. 1950 1960 Answer: C Objective: Chicago School Page number: 4 10. Which of the following concerns the process of actually identifying how you are going to measure theoretical concepts? a. Conceptualization b. Operationalization c. Characterization d. All of the above Answer: B Objective: Theory testing Page number: 6-7 11. Criminality refers to the of offending among and between social groups. a. extent and frequency b. individual differences c. constant patterns d. definitions 5
Answer: A Objective: Criminology Page number: 5 12. Which of the following is an example of a research question that primarily addresses the dependent variable of criminality, not locale? a. Why are rates of gun ownership and crime more correlated in Southern states? b. Why is there more homicide in Memphis than in Phoenix? c. Why are males more criminal than females? d. Why does crime itself exist? Answer: C Objective: Theory testing Page number: 5 13. Correlation speaks to the of two variables, or the direction and strength of fluctuation in a dependent variable by an independent variable. a. spuriousness b. covariance c. constant influence d. sequence Answer: B Objective: Theory testing Page number: 6 14. Which of the following statements would represent an example of where a positive correlation would most typically be found? a. A social group s level of drug use and level of involvement in crime b. A social group s level of educational attainment and level of involvement in crime c. The minimal impact of a gang awareness program in preventing gang membership d. The change in crime rates due to changes in locale Answer: A Objective: Theory testing Page number: 6 15. Criminology is focused on: 6
a. the actual practices of law enforcement, legal processes, and corrections. b. extensive forensic lab testing to understand criminals and crime. c. overseeing the operations and organization of the criminal justice system. d. understanding the various causes of crimes. Answer: D Objective: Goals of criminology Page number: 6 16. Of the following, which is most likely to make a theory scientific? a. Well-conceptualized variables b. Explainable opinions c. Falsifiable statements d. Consistent premises Answer: C Objective: Page number: 7 17. Which of the following is NOT one of the four elements required for causation in the context of scientific theorizing? a. Appropriate locale for locating a sample to study b. Logical basis for believing a causal relationship exists c. A time sequence of cause and effect elements c. Correlation, indicating strength and direction of influence Answer: A Objective: Assessing theory Page number: 7 18. Which of the following make up the criteria necessary to be met in order for a program, treatment modality, or practice to be considered evidence based? a. Causality, lack of spurious, logical based b. Previous implementation and delivery, scientific evaluation finding effectiveness, successful replication c. Logical based, fair, successful replication d. Temporal order, logical based, lack of spurious Answer: B Objective: Evidence-based Practice 7
Page number: 10 19. Micro-level is to macro-level as: a. culture is to structure. b. culture is to subculture. c. individual is to society. d. positive is to negative. Answer: C Objective: Applying theory Page number: 8 20. Durkheim and Parsons are attributed to the development of which theoretical perspective? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Classicism c. Neoconservatism Answer: B Objective: Sociological perspectives of crime 21. Which sociological perspective has conditioned criminology in ways where looking at value conflicts and inequalities are seen as fruitful? a. Functionalism b. Conflict c. Interactionism d. Egalitarianism Answer: B Objective: Sociological perspectives of crime 22. Marxist and feminist criminology have been most conditioned by which sociological perspective? a. Functionalism b. Conflict 8
c. Interactionism d. Egalitarianism Answer: B Objective: Sociological perspectives of crime 23. Much criminological theorizing generates what kind of research? a. Basic b. Pure c. Advanced d. Applied Answer: D Objective: Purpose of criminology 24. Which of the following perspectives has influenced several theories including learning theory, reintegrative shaming, and routine activities theory? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Conflict d. Realism Answer: A Objective: Sociological perspectives of crime 25. What does theory provide students investigating crime? a. Provides a scientific orientation for studying crime b. Grounds modes of inquiry into systematic analysis c. Identifies cause and effect relationships d. All of the above Answer: D Objective: Purpose of theory 9
Chapter 1 True-False 1. Trial by battle and trial by ordeal both were vested in the spiritual notion of divine intervention. Objective: Evolution of criminology Page number: 3 2. The first dominant paradigm in American criminology was Neoclassicism. Answer: FALSE Objective: Classical School over time 3. Determinism assumes that the causes of behavior can be identified and that they can enable predictions about behavioral outcomes that will be likely to occur given certain conditions. Objective: Positive School of crime Page number: 4 4. The Chicago School is most known for its development of the social ecology model of thought. Objective: Social Ecology Page number: 4 5. A dependent variable is the cause while an independent variable is the effect. Answer: FALSE 10
Objective: Components of Theory Page number: 5 6. Crime rates, as distinguished from criminality, denote the level of crime in a given locale. Objective: Criminal Justice System and Criminology Page number: 5 7. A correlation that is near zero indicates a weak relationship between the independent and dependent variable(s). Objective: Assessing theory 8. Spuriousness is something that scientific theories strive to avoid. Objective: Assessing theory Page number: 8 9. A micro-level theory usually focuses on demographic compositional differences (e.g., age, gender, and ethnic composition) more so than a macro-level theory. Answer: FALSE Objective: Application of theory Page number: 8 10. Learning theory is derived from the social conflict perspective. 11
Answer: FALSE Objective: Sociological perspectives of crime theories 11. The correlation between two variables can be positive or negative. Objective: Components of Theory Page number: 6 12. As defined by Cressey (1978) criminology is focused on the processes of making and breaking laws. Objective: Comparing criminology and criminal justice Page number: 1 13. Showing that the independent variable occurred prior to the dependent variable is NOT necessary to prove causality. Answer: FALSE Objective: Analysis of research Page number: 8 14. Evidence-based practice is a concept that entails scientific research and has emerged in recent years in applied fields such as criminal justice Objective: Criminology or criminal justice research Page number: 10 15. Research-practitioner partnerships are argued to be mutually beneficial and are necessary to demonstrate effectiveness and accountability. 12
Objective: Direction of Criminology and Criminal Justice System Page number: 10 Chapter 1 Fill in the Blank 1. Trial by battle and trial by ordeal are examples of solutions to feuds and represent the of justice. Answer: family-revenge model Objective: Evolution of Criminology Page: 2 2. involves the sacrifice of some personal freedom by endorsement of governmental law enforcement in exchange for protection and benefit of all. Answer: social contract Objective: Enlightenment Period Page: 3 3. focuses on the process of making and breaking laws. Answer: Criminology Objective: Goals and purpose Page number: 1 4. The era focused on free will versus demonic possession when discussing the reasons for crime. Answer: Enlightenment (also acceptable: Classical) Objective: History of criminology Page number: 3 5. The Chicago school perspective and researchers such as Shaw and McKay, Merton and Sutherland established a paradigm that linked causes of crime to the. Answer: environment Objective: Chicago School 13
Page: 4 6. The notions of the classical school were later revised by legal reformers and this came to be known as. Answer: neoclassicism Objective: Classical School over time Page number: 4 7. Cesare Lombroso illustrated a in his work which was associated with determinism. Answer: criminal type (also acceptable: born criminal) Objective: Positive School of Crime Page: 4 8. is the foremost dependent variable in criminology. Answer: Crime (acceptable variations include Criminal offending, Delinquency, Crime involvement) Objective: Research in criminology and criminal justice Page number: 5 9. The functionalist perspective contends social order is realized because people reach an agreement on what behaviors that they deem are acceptable, otherwise known as. Answer: general normative consensus Objective: Leading perspectives of social life 10. takes the position that human behavior is caused by factors specific to the individual, such as biological and psychological issues. Answer: Determinism Objective: Positive School of Crime Page number: 4 Chapter 1 Matching Match the word listed in Column 1 to its description in Column 2. 14
Column 1 Column 2 1. Criminologists a. Focused on the process of making and breaking laws 2. Criminal Justice b. Seek to understand how the creation of criminal law defines misbehavior and concerned with various causes of crime 3. Criminality c. Denotes the extent and frequency of offending by a societal group, such as the young, minorities, non-citizens, etc. 4. Criminology d. Concerned with the actual practices of law enforcement, legal process, and corrections 1. *b 2. *c 3. *c 4. *a Objective: Differentiating between criminal justice and criminology Page number: 1, 5 Match the perspectives listed in Column 1 to its description in Column 2. Column 1 Column 2 1. Classical School a. Emphasized human behavior is caused by factors specific to the individual 2. Determinism b. Emphasized application of scientific method by stressing the identification of patterns and consistencies in observable facts 3. Chicago School c. Emphasized relationships between criminal behavior and punishment 4. Positivism d. Demonstrated crime is product of social ecology 1. *c 2. *a 3. *d 4. *b Objective: Learning the evolution of criminology Page number: 4 Match the terms listed in Column 1 to its description in Column 2. Column 1 Column 2 1. Correlation a. Identifying measurable indicators for variables 2. Operationalization b. Something that varies and is not constant, typically termed causes and effects 3. Theory c. Systematic explanation composed of statements indicating an outcome s causal and associated elements 4. Variables d. Presence of a relationship between observable 15
phenomena 1. *d 2. *a 3. *c 4. *b Objective: Understanding the nature of theories Page number: 5, 6 Chapter 1 Essay 1. Describe how classical and positive schools of criminology perspectives differ from one another. Answer: Free will versus scientific determinism: o The Classical School said that people have free will and the ability to choose behavior through reason. o Positive School said that behavior is caused by biological, psychological, and sociological forces outside of a person s control. Punishment (deterrence) versus treatment (rehabilitation): The classical school used swift, certain, and sufficiently harsh punishment to deter people from committing crimes. The positive school used treatment to rehabilitate the person. Study of criminal law versus study of individual offender: The classical school focuses on preventing crime and promoting justice. The positive school focuses on the causes of crime and the medical, psychological, and social characteristics of individual offenders. o The classical school made legal reforms and developed a criminal code. o The positive school produced indeterminate sentencing and parole boards. Objective: Learn and understand the different approaches between the Positive and Classical Schools of Crime Page number: 2-5 2. Describe the four main components necessary to demonstrate causality? Answer: Correlation causal factors and the events or things to be explained should accompany one another Temporal order causal factors must be temporarily prior to the event or things they explain Non-spurious Associations between a hypothetical causal factor and the events or things must not be due to other factors Logical basis Sound reasoning for proposed theory or causal relationship 16
Objective: Understanding causality between components within theory Page number: 7-8 3. Compare and contrast micro and macro-level explanations for crime giving examples of both. Answer: Micro-level theory focuses on individual and small-group behavior (ex. Face-to-face interaction) Macro-level theory looks to the structural properties of society (ex. Social inequality, culture, and demographic characteristics) Objective: Identifying the different levels crime is studied and researched Page number: 8 4. What is the role of criminological theory for research purposes? Can theoretical explanations be integrated/combined to better explain criminal behavior? Answer: Defines some part of the social world as problematic, deserving of study Specifies certain questions for study Provides answers to questions Includes empirical tests of theory (research) Suggests directions for social policy based on theory and research Objective: Learning the purpose of research and study of criminology Page number: 5, 9 Chapter 1 Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions 1. The textbook explained that theory and research are inextricably linked with criminal justice policy. Explain this relationship by discussing one specific theory and one policy implication that can be drawn from that theory. Answer: Provides a scientific orientation to the phenomena of crime Grounds several styles of inquiry in a logic of systematic analysis Relationships between causes and effects can be identified Composes a knowledge base to assist decision making and planning concerning crime problems Advancing knowledge in general Generate practice and policy implications 17
Objective: Learning the purpose of theory 2. Describe and discuss why criminologists recognize the origins of criminality in the Enlightenment period? Answer: Philosophers observed superiority of reason based instead of blind faith Introduced new way of logical thinking Paved way to general view of social order Social contract was introduced demonstrated the relationships between criminal behavior, punishment and criminal justice system in general Classical School of Criminology Deterrence theory was introduced and emphasized free will and rationality Crime was no longer believed to be a function of religion, superstition, or myth Crime was seen as result of free will Revised formal social control Introduced an emphasis on studying criminal behavior Objective: Learning the evolution of criminology Page number: 5, 9 18