Criminology Today An Integrative Introduction, 11th edition Frank Schmalleger
Chapter 1-15
Chapter 1 What Is Criminology?
1.1 Multiple Choice Questions
1) The view of crime as human conduct that violates the criminal law is drawn from a
________ perspective.
A) political
B) sociological
C) psychological
D) legalistic
Answer: C
Objective: What is crime? What is the definition of crime that the author of this text has
chosen to use?
Level: Basic
2) ―Human conduct that is in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government,
or a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws‖ is a definition of ________.
A) criminology
B) crime
C) criminal
D) deviance
Answer: B
Objective: What is crime? What is the definition of crime that the author of this text has
chosen to use?
Level: Basic
3) The belief that crime is an antisocial act of such a nature that repression is necessary to
preserve the existing system of society is the basis of the ________ perspective on crime
A) legal
B) political
C) sociological
D) psychological
Answer: C
Objective: What is crime? What is the definition of crime that the author of this text has
chosen to use?
Level: Basic
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,4) Which of the following statements regarding a crime harm index (CHI) is true?
A) A CHI counts each offense equally.
B) A CHI argues that each offense has a similar impact on victims or on society.
C) A CHI primarily focuses on street crimes that are most commonly committed by
individuals who have lower incomes.
D) A CHI assigns different weights to crimes based on the harm they cause.
Answer: D
Objective: What is crime? What is the definition of crime that the author of this text has
chosen to use?
Level: Basic
5) Which of the following statements about deviance and crime is true?
A) All deviant behavior is criminal.
B) All criminal behavior is deviant.
C) Deviant behavior and criminal behavior overlap.
D) Deviant behavior and criminal behavior are mutually exclusive categories.
Answer: C
Objective: What is deviance? How are crime and deviance similar? How do they differ?
Level: Intermediate
6) You are running late to class and there is an exam today. To get to class on time, you drive
about 10 miles about the speed limit. This is an example of behavior that is ________.
A) deviant but not criminal
B) criminal but not deviant
C) both deviant and criminal
D) neither deviant nor criminal
Answer: B
Objective: What is deviance? How are crime and deviance similar? How do they differ?
Level: Intermediate
7) Which of the following behaviors is criminal only when committed by a child but is legal
when committed by an adult?
A) Shoplifting a candy bar
B) Drinking alcohol
C) Speeding
D) Joyriding
Answer: B
Objective: What is deviance? How are crime and deviance similar? How do they differ?
Level: Intermediate
8) The ________ perspective says that laws should be enacted to criminalize certain behaviors
when members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary?
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, A) consensus
B) sociological
C) pluralistic
D) legalistic
Answer: A
Objective: Who decides what should be criminal? How are such decisions made?
Level: Basic
9) The pluralistic perspective suggests that behaviors are typically criminalized through
________.
A) a political process
B) the general agreement of most members of society
C) the existence of shared norms and values
D) consensus
Answer: A
Objective: Who decides what should be criminal? How are such decisions made?
Level: Basic
10) The gun control debate is an example of the ________ perspective.
A) consensus
B) sociological
C) conflict
D) pluralistic
Answer: D
Objective: Who decides what should be criminal? How are such decisions made?
Level: Intermediate
11) ________ is the field of study that is concerned primarily with the causes and consequences
of crime.
A) Criminal justice
B) Criminology
C) Criminality
D) Criminalistics
Answer: B
Objective: What is criminology? What are its many roots?
Level: Basic
12) Criminal justice focuses on ________.
A) the control of lawbreaking
B) the causes of crime
C) the consequences of crime
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, D) the victim
Answer: A
Objective: What is criminology? What are its many roots?
Level: Basic
13) A ________ studies crime, criminals, and criminal behavior.
A) scientist
B) criminal justice professional
C) criminologist
D) criminalist
Answer: C
Objective: What do criminologists do?
Level: Basic
14) Which of the following individuals would most likely be considered a criminalist?
A) A victims’ advocate
B) A polygraph operator
C) A computer crime investigator
D) A correctional officer
Answer: B
Objective: What do criminologists do?
Level: Intermediate
15) A(n) ________ theory of crime attempts to explain all or most forms of criminal conduct
through a single, overarching approach.
A) complete
B) unicausal
C) integrated
D) general
Answer: D
Objective: What do criminologists do?
Level: Basic
16) You are learning about a specific general theory which suggests that all types of criminal and
deviant behavior can be explained by a single factor: a lack of self-control. This is an
example of a(n) ________ theory.
A) integrated
B) unicausal
C) bicameral
D) complete
Answer: B
Objective: What do criminologists do?
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