Deck 14: Data and Information Analysis

Question 1

The observations of Burgess and Akers produced the first real insight into the process by which juveniles become members of criminal gangs. The objective of this research are:

A) to fill gaps in the body of knowledge.
B) to produce more research questions.
C) to answer research questions.
D) to reveal inconsistencies among researchers.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The City of Bigton is having a problem with graffiti. The Mayor decides that the only logical way to reduce graffiti is to increase the penalty. The City Council agrees and increases the penalty. However, incidents of graffiti continue to increase. Which of the following alternatives to research is the Mayor using?

A) Authority
B) Tradition or Custom
C) Common Sense
D) Media

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Compared to the physical sciences, like biology, chemistry, or physics, research methods in the social sciences, like criminal justice, sociology or economics, are:

A) easier, because nobody really cares if social scientists get it right or not.
B) more difficult because social concepts are more difficult to measure definitively.
C) easier because social scientists are allowed more leeway in their methodology.
D) about the same in terms of their level of difficulty.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A researcher conducts recorded interviews with minors serving life sentences, which they later translate into a written transcript. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

A) Transcribing
B) Memoing
C) Coding
D) Diagramming

Question 5

A researcher develops a flow chart to illustrate the process by which men and women progress through a typical policing career. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

A) Transcribing
B) Memoing
C) Coding
D) Diagramming

Question 6

A researcher reflects on how social workers influence the child protective custody process while reading through interview data. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

A) Transcribing
B) Memoing
C) Coding
D) Diagramming

Question 7

A researcher reads through their observations of jury trials involving cases of rape to identify meaningful themes that arise from the data. Which qualitative analysis technique is being used?

A) Transcribing
B) Memoing
C) Coding
D) Diagramming

Question 8

The decision about which statistical technique to use for analyzing data depends on:

A) the level at which the data are measured.
B) the type (i.e., difference or association) of hypothesis being tested.
C) both a and b.
D) neither a nor b.

Question 9

A statistical technique that is used to determine whether or not two or more groups are different with respect to a single variable measured at the interval or ratio level of measurement is:

A) a multiple regression.
B) a Pearson r.
C) a t-test.
D) an ANOVA.

Question 10

As a general rule, at what level do social scientists agree that a statistical result is not due to chance (i.e., statistical significance)?

A) 0.05
B) 0.15
C) 0.2
D) 0.4

Question 11

A state senator is making a speech before the legislature and declares, "Racial profiling is an epidemic throughout our state." When asked to provide proof of this statement, the senator points to a large folder full of newspaper and magazine articles on racial profiling. Which of the following alternatives to research is the state senator using?

A) Authority
B) Tradition or Custom
C) Common Sense
D) Media

Question 12

Frustrated with the new intake process, a probation officer complains to her boss. "It just doesn't make sense." The supervisor encourages the probation officer to "give the new system a chance" because "after all, it was designed by the leading expert on juvenile probation in the nation." Which of the following alternatives to research is the supervisor using?

A) Authority
B) Tradition or Custom
C) Common Sense
D) Media

Question 13

You have been asked to make a presentation on a subject that you know very little about. What source(s) would you consult to obtain a general overview of the subject?

A) A scholarly journal
B) The local newspaper
C) A friend who seems to know a lot about the subject
D) A book

Question 14

Your professor has assigned a research paper. The references for this paper must come from "peer reviewed" research articles. Where would you most likely find these articles?

A) The local newspaper
B) A popular news magazine
C) A scholarly journal
D) A television newscast

Question 15

A program at a local high school is designed to reduce illegal drug use among adolescents. The school board has asked a researcher to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. What type of research is this?

A) Pure research
B) Applied research
C) Directed research
D) Scholarly research

Question 16

A researcher conducts research for the initial purpose of explaining the linkages between illegal drug use and risky sexual behaviors among adolescents. This researcher is merely interested in this topic and hopes to publish this research report in an academic journal. What type of research is this?

A) Pure research
B) Applied research
C) Scholarly research
D) Theoretical research

Question 17

The captain of the narcotics unit in a large metropolitan police department hears that prescription drug abuse is growing among juveniles in her city. She asks one of her lieutenants to conduct research to determine the extent of this new trend. Into which of the following research categories would this research project best fit?

A) Exploratory
B) Descriptive
C) Explanatory
D) Pragmatic

Question 18

Recently, a dozen correctional officers were dismissed for participating in a drug and contraband smuggling conspiracy. The warden has asked a consultant to conduct research that would provide insight into why these officers were led to participate in this conspiracy. Into which of the following research categories would this research project best fit?

A) Exploratory
B) Descriptive
C) Explanatory
D) Field

Question 19

The Chief Probation Officer has asked one of his assistants to conduct an analysis of the probationers under the supervision of the Probation Department. The Chief wants to know basic information that describes the "typical" probationer, such as age, gender, criminal history, and length of probation. Into which of the following research categories would this research project best fit?

A) Exploratory
B) Descriptive
C) Explanatory
D) Census

Question 20

A recent proposal by the Bigton Police Department is to not dispatch officers to take stolen vehicle reports. Instead the vehicle owner would enter the appropriate information into an online system and get the case number needed to file an insurance claim. The City Manager rejects the proposal, arguing, "The good people of Bigton deserve a living and breathing police officer when they call one. That is just the way we've always done things around here." Which of the following alternatives to rese

A) Authority
B) Tradition or Custom
C) Common Sense
D) Media

Question 21

A chi square is an example of:

A) a descriptive statistic.
B) a probabilistic statistic.
C) an inferential statistic.
D) a non-probabilistic statistic

Question 22

A Spearman rho is an example of:

A) a probabilistic statistic.
B) an inferential statistic.
C) a descriptive statistic.
D) a non-probabilistic statistic.

Question 23

A percentage is an example of:

A) a non-probabilistic statistic.
B) an inferential statistic.
C) a probabilistic statistic.
D) a descriptive statistic.

Question 24

The most appropriate test for a hypothesis of association when the data are measured at the interval or ratio level is:

A) Pearson r.
B) ANOVA.
C) t-test.
D) chi square.

Question 25

The most appropriate statistical test for a hypothesis of difference when the data are measured at the nominal level is:

A) Pearson r.
B) ANOVA.
C) t-test.
D) chi square.

Question 26

The Pearson r statistic for representing the correlation between variable 'A' and variable 'B' is -87. This means that:

A) when variable 'A' increases variable 'B' increases.
B) when variable 'A' decreases variable 'B' increases.
C) when variable 'A' decreases variable 'B' decreases.
D) Cannot be determined from this information.

Question 27

Sixty eight percent of the cases in a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 10 would fall between:

A) 100 and 110.
B) 90 and 110.
C) 100 and 120.
D) 80 and 100.

Question 28

A score at the 75th percentile means:

A) that 25 percent of the cases are lower than that score.
B) that 25 percent of the cases are higher than that score.
C) that 75 percent of the cases are equal to that score.
D) Cannot be determined from this information.

Question 29

Higher standard deviations are indicative of:

A) higher levels of variability.
B) lower levels of variability.
C) stable levels of variability.
D) Cannot be determined from this information.

Question 30

The median is the most appropriate measure of central tendency when:

A) there are outliers in the data set.
B) the data are measured at the ordinal level.
C) either a or b.
D) neither a nor b, the median should only be used as a last resort.

Question 31

A researcher finds that the mean average number of alcoholic beverages imbibed by college professors is six drinks per week, while the median average is only three. What is the likely cause of this?

A) Some college professors drink a lot.
B) Some college professors drink very little.
C) There is nothing to conclude from this. It is just that way.
D) Most college professors drink about four and a half alcoholic beverages per week.

Question 32

If the range of a distribution is 11, then the highest and lowest values are:

A) 1 and 12, respectively.
B) 4 and 17, respectively.
C) 3 and 12, respectively.
D) Cannot be determined from this information.

Question 33

The main disadvantage of the mean is that it is:

A) difficult to calculate accurately.
B) less useful than other descriptive statistics.
C) seldom used in data analysis.
D) sensitive to extreme values.

Question 34

When a researcher's data is collected at the interval or ratio level of measurement, which of the following measures of central tendency are available to use?

A) Mean
B) Median
C) Mode
D) All of the above

Question 35

A rate is an example of:

A) a descriptive statistic.
B) a non-probabilistic statistic.
C) a probabilistic statistic.
D) an inferential statistic.

Question 36

A t-score is an example of:

A) a descriptive statistic.
B) an inferential statistic.
C) a probabilistic statistic.
D) a non-probabilistic statistic.

Question 37

In a normal distribution of IQ scores, where the mean is 100 and the standard deviation is 10, what percent of the cases have IQ scores from 90 to 110?

A) 32 percent
B) 26 percent
C) 54 percent
D) 68 percent

Question 38

A recent study of crime in Bigton revealed that 10 of every 10,000 residents has been a victim of crime in the past year. The statistic used here is a:

A) mean.
B) range.
C) percentile rank.
D) rate.

Question 39

During a conversation between two police officers, one comments, "I made an 86 on the last sergeant's exam, which ain't bad. But 74 percent of the other officers that took the same exam made a better score." The statistic used here is a:

A) mean.
B) range.
C) percentile rank.
D) rate.

Question 40

A researcher is studying a sample of teenagers who attend a youth program intended to prevent juvenile delinquency. She is interested in describing the sample and begins by calculating the average age of the teenagers in the program. The statistic used here is a(n):

A) mean.
B) range.
C) percentile rank.
D) rate.

Question 41

A researcher administers an IQ test on a sample of 80 juvenile delinquents. She reports the numerical difference between the delinquent that scored the highest and the delinquent that scored the lowest level of intelligence. The statistic used here is a:

A) mean.
B) range.
C) percentile rank.
D) rate.