1 / 12

The Role of Theory in Criminology

The Role of Theory in Criminology. What is a Theory?. Why Have Theory?. Answers the question, why? Make sense of the facts we observe Predict what may happen in the future Shape and direct scientific research Shape and direct policies to reduce crime. Examples of Theories.

enid
Download Presentation

The Role of Theory in Criminology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Role of Theory in Criminology

  2. What is a Theory?

  3. Why Have Theory? • Answers the question, why? • Make sense of the facts we observe • Predict what may happen in the future • Shape and direct scientific research • Shape and direct policies to reduce crime

  4. Examples of Theories

  5. Crime Theoryand Common Sense • “It’s all in the genes” • “He’s from the wrong side of the tracks” • “She got in with the wrong crowd” • “What he needs is a good stiff kick” • “It’s the parents fault” • “We’ve got to stop coddling criminals” • “It’s the music she listens to” • “How else could he hope to get rich?” • “His teachers expected him to fail, so he did”

  6. What is Criminological Theory? • Articulated propositions • Specify the relationships between variables • Unarticulated propositions • Assumptions about human beings • Cognitive (empirical) validity • Does the theory fit with research results?

  7. Specifying the Relationships Between Variables • Direct (causal) effect • A affects C directly • Indirect (mediated) effect • A affects C by affecting B • B is the mediating variable A C A B C

  8. Specifying the Relationship Between Variables • Interaction effect • The relationship between A and C differs depending on B A C B - B conditions the relationship A and C - B moderates the relationship A and C

  9. Specifying the Relationship Between Variables • Correlation, not causation • A and C are correlated but not causally related A C

  10. Specifying the Relationship Between Variables • Exogenous variables • Not explained by the causal diagram or model • Endogenous variables • Explained by the causal diagram or model

  11. Causal Diagram

  12. A Basic Issue • Is criminal behavior caused or is it the product of free will? • If caused, are criminals biologically different than non-criminals, or is it their social experiences that matter most?

More Related