Question 1

Which of the following is not a component of a randomized experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  a control group 
B)  a treatment group 
C)  matching groups on relevant variables 
D)  random assignment 
E)  collection of data before participating in a program 
A)  a control group 
B)  a treatment group 
C)  matching groups on relevant variables 
D)  random assignment 
E)  collection of data before participating in a program C

Question 2

If juveniles are randomly assigned to control and treatment groups:

Accepted Answer

A)  this assignment will result in a random sample of juveniles 
B)  this assignment will not result in a random sample of juveniles 
C)  this assignment may or may not result in a random sample of juveniles 
D)  none of the above 
A)  this assignment will result in a random sample of juveniles 
B)  this assignment will not result in a random sample of juveniles 
C)  this assignment may or may not result in a random sample of juveniles 
D)  none of the above C

Question 3

Drawing on the text, identify three problems that criminologists can encounter when they attempt to employ a randomized experimental model.

Accepted Answer

1. Ethical concerns: Randomized experimental models often involve manipulating variables and assigning participants to different conditions, which can raise ethical concerns. For example, it may be unethical to randomly assign individuals to a condition that could potentially harm them or deprive them of necessary resources.

2. Practical limitations: Conducting randomized experiments in criminology can be challenging due to practical limitations. For example, it may be difficult to control for all potential confounding variables, and it may be impractical or impossible to randomly assign individuals to certain conditions (e.g., assigning individuals to live in high-crime neighborhoods).

3. Generalizability: Randomized experimental models may not always produce results that are generalizable to real-world settings. For example, the controlled environment of a laboratory setting may not accurately reflect the complexities of criminal behavior in the real world, leading to findings that may not be applicable to actual criminal justice interventions.

Question 4

Provide examples of when random assignment procedures may be violated. Why is it concerning if random assignment procedures are violated?

Accepted Answer

Random assignment procedures may be viol

Question 5

In order to allow for a proper evaluation of the nurse-family partnership (NFP) program, the expectant mothers were:

Accepted Answer

A)  randomly assigned to one of two groups 
B)  nonrandomly assigned to one of two groups 
C)  inadvertently assigned to one of two groups 
D)  observed in a laboratory setting 
A)  randomly assigned to one of two groups 
B)  nonrandomly assigned to one of two groups 
C)  inadvertently assigned to one of two groups 
D)  observed in a laboratory setting

Question 6

Researchers typically use a _____________ in studies that evaluate a program's effectiveness in reducing delinquency.

Accepted Answer

A)  random sample of juveniles from multiple locations 
B)  random sample of juveniles from a single location 
C)  representative, although not necessarily random, sample of juveniles 
D)  nonrandom sample of juveniles 
A)  random sample of juveniles from multiple locations 
B)  random sample of juveniles from a single location 
C)  representative, although not necessarily random, sample of juveniles 
D)  nonrandom sample of juveniles

Question 7

When conducting experiments with control and treatment groups, the best way to ensure that the groups are roughly identical to each other is through a procedure known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  random sampling 
B)  random assignment 
C)  comparison assignment 
D)  comparison sampling 
E)  selective sampling 
A)  random sampling 
B)  random assignment 
C)  comparison assignment 
D)  comparison sampling 
E)  selective sampling

Question 8

According to Agnew and Brezina, it is often difficult to state with a high degree of certainty that a program:

Accepted Answer

A)  has not been implemented correctly 
B)  is generally effective at reducing delinquency 
C)  is ineffective 
D)  none of the above 
A)  has not been implemented correctly 
B)  is generally effective at reducing delinquency 
C)  is ineffective 
D)  none of the above

Question 9

A randomized experimental model meets which of the following conditions for making causal statements?

Accepted Answer

A)  association due to chance 
B)  association due to third variables 
C)  causal order 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above 
A)  association due to chance 
B)  association due to third variables 
C)  causal order 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a nonequivalent control group design?

Accepted Answer

A)  examining rates of delinquency in the weeks before and after a new law takes effect 
B)  comparing rates of delinquency in states with and without a particular law 
C)  comparing the reoffending rates of juveniles placed on intensive probation with those of similar juveniles on probation 
D)  both b and c 
E)  none of the above 
A)  examining rates of delinquency in the weeks before and after a new law takes effect 
B)  comparing rates of delinquency in states with and without a particular law 
C)  comparing the reoffending rates of juveniles placed on intensive probation with those of similar juveniles on probation 
D)  both b and c 
E)  none of the above

Question 11

Randomized experiments indicate that Scared Straight programs are ______ effective at reducing delinquency.

Accepted Answer

A)  not 
B)  sometimes 
C)  most times 
D)  always 
A)  not 
B)  sometimes 
C)  most times 
D)  always

Question 12

It is not always possible to do a randomized experiment because:

Accepted Answer

A)  of potential ethical problems 
B)  the variables are not always random 
C)  researchers typically prefer to conduct nonrandomized experiments 
D)  none of the above 
A)  of potential ethical problems 
B)  the variables are not always random 
C)  researchers typically prefer to conduct nonrandomized experiments 
D)  none of the above

Question 13

Describe how a randomized experiment meets the four conditions for making causal statements.

Accepted Answer

Randomized experiments meet the four con

Question 14

The Nurse-Family Partnership was first implemented in Elmira, New York, in:

Accepted Answer

A)  the 1920s 
B)  the late 1970s 
C)  mid-1980s 
D)  late 1990s 
A)  the 1920s 
B)  the late 1970s 
C)  mid-1980s 
D)  late 1990s

Question 15

Agnew and Brezina discuss how program evaluations often have little effect on the extent to which a program is used because policy makers and people in the general public may not be aware of the results of program evaluations. What can criminologists do to overcome this issue?

Accepted Answer

Criminologists can overcome this issue b

Question 16

It is unlikely that the association may be due to a third variable if:

Accepted Answer

A)  individuals are randomly assigned to the treatment and control groups 
B)  individuals are randomly assigned to the treatment group but not the control group 
C)  individuals are nonrandomly assigned to the control group but not the treatment group 
D)  individuals are nonrandomly assigned to the treatment and control groups 
A)  individuals are randomly assigned to the treatment and control groups 
B)  individuals are randomly assigned to the treatment group but not the control group 
C)  individuals are nonrandomly assigned to the control group but not the treatment group 
D)  individuals are nonrandomly assigned to the treatment and control groups

Question 17

What is one potential reason why researchers may find a program to be ineffective?

Accepted Answer

A)  The program is not based on theory. 
B)  The program does not have a large enough sample. 
C)  The program does not work. 
D)  The program is too new to evaluate. 
A)  The program is not based on theory. 
B)  The program does not have a large enough sample. 
C)  The program does not work. 
D)  The program is too new to evaluate.

Question 18

What are the two primary reasons that researchers may find some programs ineffective?

Accepted Answer

Researchers may find some programs ineff

Question 19

Discuss the Scared Straight program. What type of experimental design was used? Does research suggest that this is an effective program? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The Scared Straight program is a juvenil

Question 20

You are asked to evaluate the effectiveness of a program designed to reduce drug use among juvenile drug offenders. You decide to conduct a randomized experiment with both control and treatment groups. Explain the procedure you would follow in selecting participants for these two groups.

Accepted Answer

First, I would obtain a list of juvenile

Exam 19: Policies and Programs

Which of the following is not a component of a randomized experiment?

If juveniles are randomly assigned to control and treatment groups:

Drawing on the text, identify three problems that criminologists can encounter when they attempt to employ a randomized experimental model.

Provide examples of when random assignment procedures may be violated. Why is it concerning if random assignment procedures are violated?

In order to allow for a proper evaluation of the nurse-family partnership (NFP) program, the expectant mothers were:

Researchers typically use a _____________ in studies that evaluate a program's effectiveness in reducing delinquency.

When conducting experiments with control and treatment groups, the best way to ensure that the groups are roughly identical to each other is through a procedure known as:

According to Agnew and Brezina, it is often difficult to state with a high degree of certainty that a program:

A randomized experimental model meets which of the following conditions for making causal statements?

Which of the following is an example of a nonequivalent control group design?

Randomized experiments indicate that Scared Straight programs are ______ effective at reducing delinquency.

It is not always possible to do a randomized experiment because:

Describe how a randomized experiment meets the four conditions for making causal statements.

The Nurse-Family Partnership was first implemented in Elmira, New York, in:

Agnew and Brezina discuss how program evaluations often have little effect on the extent to which a program is used because policy makers and people in the general public may not be aware of the results of program evaluations. What can criminologists do to overcome this issue?

It is unlikely that the association may be due to a third variable if:

What is one potential reason why researchers may find a program to be ineffective?

What are the two primary reasons that researchers may find some programs ineffective?

Discuss the Scared Straight program. What type of experimental design was used? Does research suggest that this is an effective program? Why or why not?

You are asked to evaluate the effectiveness of a program designed to reduce drug use among juvenile drug offenders. You decide to conduct a randomized experiment with both control and treatment groups. Explain the procedure you would follow in selecting participants for these two groups.

What Is Delinquency and How Does It Differ From Adult Crime

How Is Delinquency Measureding the Extent of Rape

How Much Delinquency Is There, and Is Delinquency Increasing

Who Is Most Likely to Engage in Delinquency

What Is a Theory and How Do We Test Theories

Strain Theory

Social Learning Theory

Control Theory

Labeling Theory

The Life Course

Is Delinquency More Likely in Certain Types of Situations

Group Differences in Delinquency

Individual Traits

The Family

The School

Delinquent Peers and Gangs

Other Social Influences

Pulling It All Together

The Police

Juvenile Court and Corrections

The Juvenile Justice System

The Strategies of Deterrence and Incapacitation

The Strategies of Prevention and Rehabilitation

What Should We Do to Reduce Delinquency

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