C108 MIDTERM EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Role of theory - ANS Provides a lens through which to make sense of our object of study; has
a big influence in society
Theory seeks to falsify/validate itself based on empirical data
What is the role of theory in research? - ANS Allows to explain the phenomenon, establishes
conceptual boundaries, organizing concepts, frames in empirical way, filters information,
highlights what elements are important to consider, frames research questions, guides data
interpretation
Role of theory in application - ANS Forms the basis for policies and interventions
Refers to theories explaining crime; focusing on the "why"
Why is it so important for policy to be based on an accurate theory? - ANS Because we don't
want to put out a policy that won't work or isn't applied correctly and lose time and money
If not, policy is ineffective, waste of resources on something that isn't beneficial
What is an independent variable? - ANS What is manipulated; changed/controlled variable in
an experiment to test the effect of dependent variable
pg. 1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What is an dependent variable? - ANS what is measured (the effect); variable being tested
and measured in scientific experiment
Why is it important to be able to establish causal order/order of events in theory testing? Give
an example - ANS If causal order is not established then there would be disentanglement
between cause from effect.
Causal order examines the effect first then presents the probable causes
EX. If a policy is implemented in response to a crime, then it is the effect, not the cause. But
policies usually studied as cause, when they are effects of crimes
What research method allows one to establish causal order when testing a theory -
ANS Longitudinal Study
Explain what it means to say that to test a theory you have to rule out possible competing
explanations. Give an example - ANS You have to rule out other possibilities that can be the
cause of the outcome.
Ex> Special deterrence: Crime being reduced might be because people arebeing deterred by
punishment but could also be because they are incarcerated
Some of the theories allow space for the inclusion of other theories to do explanatory work, or
overlap. Give an example of this - ANS Rational choice theory is a product of rational choice,
a cost-benefit analysis when the benefits from crime outweigh the costs. Overlaps with
deterrence theory which is the idea that increasing the cost side of crime with punishments will
deter people from committing crime
Theories could be useful in other ways because they're open-ended, helps researchers either
improve the theory or create a new theory based off the original theory
What are the different levels of theoretical explanation in criminological theory, what roles do
they serve? - ANS MICRO - explains individual-level phenomena (EX> Psychological theories;
self-control, strain, etc rehabilitation programs)
pg. 2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
Role of theory - ANS Provides a lens through which to make sense of our object of study; has
a big influence in society
Theory seeks to falsify/validate itself based on empirical data
What is the role of theory in research? - ANS Allows to explain the phenomenon, establishes
conceptual boundaries, organizing concepts, frames in empirical way, filters information,
highlights what elements are important to consider, frames research questions, guides data
interpretation
Role of theory in application - ANS Forms the basis for policies and interventions
Refers to theories explaining crime; focusing on the "why"
Why is it so important for policy to be based on an accurate theory? - ANS Because we don't
want to put out a policy that won't work or isn't applied correctly and lose time and money
If not, policy is ineffective, waste of resources on something that isn't beneficial
What is an independent variable? - ANS What is manipulated; changed/controlled variable in
an experiment to test the effect of dependent variable
pg. 1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What is an dependent variable? - ANS what is measured (the effect); variable being tested
and measured in scientific experiment
Why is it important to be able to establish causal order/order of events in theory testing? Give
an example - ANS If causal order is not established then there would be disentanglement
between cause from effect.
Causal order examines the effect first then presents the probable causes
EX. If a policy is implemented in response to a crime, then it is the effect, not the cause. But
policies usually studied as cause, when they are effects of crimes
What research method allows one to establish causal order when testing a theory -
ANS Longitudinal Study
Explain what it means to say that to test a theory you have to rule out possible competing
explanations. Give an example - ANS You have to rule out other possibilities that can be the
cause of the outcome.
Ex> Special deterrence: Crime being reduced might be because people arebeing deterred by
punishment but could also be because they are incarcerated
Some of the theories allow space for the inclusion of other theories to do explanatory work, or
overlap. Give an example of this - ANS Rational choice theory is a product of rational choice,
a cost-benefit analysis when the benefits from crime outweigh the costs. Overlaps with
deterrence theory which is the idea that increasing the cost side of crime with punishments will
deter people from committing crime
Theories could be useful in other ways because they're open-ended, helps researchers either
improve the theory or create a new theory based off the original theory
What are the different levels of theoretical explanation in criminological theory, what roles do
they serve? - ANS MICRO - explains individual-level phenomena (EX> Psychological theories;
self-control, strain, etc rehabilitation programs)
pg. 2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
