Class notes
KRM310 SECTION A LECTURE NOTES *DISTINCTION*
- Course
- KRM310 (KRM320)
- Institution
- University Of Pretoria (UP)
CRIMINOLOGY LECTURE NOTES FOR SECTION A - CRIMINOLOGY THEORIES
[Show more]
Content preview
Criminology 310Section A: Criminology Theories
Study unit 1: Role of Theories
1. Structure of theories
What is a theory? It is basic assumptions & assertions attempting to describe,
predict, explain & control subject matter
- Criminology theories often lack certainty making them eligible for practical
application (this is known as theoretical abstractness)
- Criminologists view theoretical abstractness positively: assertions in theories
cannot be limited to set time & place (must be applicable across different
countries & time periods)
2. Assumptions & assertions: building blocks of theories
Criminology theories ask: what is assumed about humans & their behavior?
Position is known as determinism = underlying force indicates type of
determinism
Eg. theory proposing that biological force of mental illness is culprit is rooted in
biological determinism
Assumptions: Assertions:
= not subject to testing or modification = subject to testing or modification
- Required to accept or reject = if assertions are incapable of evaluation in real
word context, no longer considered theory but an
= form part of theory’s core belief system ideology
= Understood & accepted before consider = referred to as propositions: generalized
assertions statements about relationships of things
- Verifiable propositions (receive consistent
support when tested) = laws
- Propositions subject to testing = hypotheses
1
, 3. Strategies for scientific enterprise:
When crime is explained using theory: application of scientific enterprise is required
Theory = starting point for
Deductive research Inductive research
= theory building studies
= theory testing studies
= focus on: providing findings that
= focus on: researching questions
may constitute theory
or testing hypotheses from
existing theory
- Criminologists conducting deductive or inductive research are guided by
research design: aids researching process by answering important questions
eg. Why are we doing the research? Over what period will we conduct the
study?
- Researches usually adopt single mode of observation:
Collection of qualitative data= interpretations of observations aiming to
express object of study’s basic nature (non-numerical examinations)
Collection of quantitative data= manipulations of observations aiming to
express object of study in terms of accurate numerical values
(numerical examinations)
4. Goals of theory
4 elements of definition of theory that encompass goals:
I. Description What is it?
- Theory’s findings correlate with what is known about crime & criminals
- Descriptions must be a. accurate b. reliable c. valid
II. Explanation Why is it?
- Deeper look into problem of crime (in relation to simple description)
- Provide reasoning for why crime exists
2
,III. Prediction When is it?
- Emphasis on element of time: identifying when something will occur based on
conditions conducive to its occurrence
IV. Control
- Criminologists often focus on creation of knowledge for own sake @ expense
of pursuit of applied knowledge
eg. Nuclear arms race: scientists provided theoretical basis for nuclear weapons but
failed to provide policies for their use
- Criminologists need to be involved in ways that resulting knowledge serves to
control behavior
5. Challenges for theory testing & theory building
Correlation v Causation
Correlation:
= ties 2 variable measures of events together
- Events are correlated if presence or absence of event A causes change in
event B
eg. Poverty & birth rates are closely related, but low income does not cause
pregnancy
- In same way: poverty is linked to crime but is not cause
Causation:
= refers to anything that produces an effect
In order for an event to be seen as cause of another it must meet 3 requirements:
I. Alleged cause happens before effect (time-order sequencing)
II. Correlation must exist (correlated variables categorized as strong or weak)
III. Absence of spurious link between alleged cause & effect
- Spuriousness: refers to observed relationship between 2 variables due to
influence of 3rd variable
3
, Broken windows Crime
= observed correlation
Explanation: crime in neighborhood surrounding building will increase @ rate that
approximates that of windows breaking in building
Broken windows Crime
= spurious interpretation
Explanation: broken windows caused crime
Community malaise
Broken windows Crime
= casual relationship
Explanation: both broken windows & crime share common cause: community
malaise
- Same sense of disconnectedness within neighborhood that caused
community members to fix or not fix windows led to increased crime
Tautological trap:
[causal ordering cannot be assumed]
- How does tautology occur? Variable studied is stated as cause or explanation
4
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jennalopes. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R165,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53068 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now