Statistics For Criminology And Criminal Justice 4th Edition Bachman - Test Bank

Chapter 1: The Purpose of Statistics in the Criminological Sciences Test Bank 1. Which type of research seeks to identify cases and effects of social phenomena, to predict how dependent variable will change or vary in response to variation in the independent variable? a. Descriptive *b. Explanatory c. Evaluation d. Case Study @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Explanatory Research; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: MC 2. A researcher is analyzing one’s fear of crime and how gender, race, class, and age all have an effect. Which would be the dependent variable? a. Gender b. Class c. Age *d. Fear of Crime @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Explanatory Research; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 3. Which of the following would NOT be an example of evaluation research? a. Analyzing the effect the D.A.R.E. program has on students using drugs b. Analyzing a reading intervention program to understand if students’ literacy levels increased *c. Analyzing the concentration of gun crimes in hot spots d. Analyzing the effect of job training and education programs on the likelihood of recidivism by ex-felons @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Evaluation Research; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 4. A _________________ is a smaller group of data that is selected from a population. a. micro-group *b. sample c. sub-sample d. sampling error @ Answer Location: Populations and Samples; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: MC 5. What is considered to be the fundamental aspect of probability sampling? a. Populations b. Samples c. Unbiased selection *d. Random selection @ Answer Location: How Do We Obtain a Sample; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: MC 6. If you wanted to select a sample by generating random numbers to select cases from the population, which type of sampling would you use? *a. Simple random sample b. Systematic random sample c. Multistage cluster sample d. Stratified sample @ Answer Location: Probability Sampling Techniques: Simple Random Samples; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: MC 7. Which type of sampling technique allows the researcher to select subjects based solely on convenience? a. Simple random sample b. Quota sample *c. Availability sample d. Purposive sample @ Answer Location: Nonprobability Sampling Techniques: Availability Samples; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: MC 8. Which type of statistic involves collecting, organizing, and summarizing data? a. Inferential b. Experimental *c. Descriptive d. Sample @Answer Location: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 9. The larger the sampling error, the _________________ representative the sample is of the population. *a. less b. more c. same d. better @Answer Location: Validity in Criminological Research; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 10. If a researcher was trying to analyze drug use among high school students and gave the survey at several different points in time to ensure the results were approximately the same, for what would the researcher check their measure? a. Sample quality b. Sample error c. Validity *d. Reliability @Answer Location: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: MC 11. Random surveys are the best way to gather information about the magnitude of violent victimization according to many social scientists? *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 12. When a research seeks to identify the cause and effect of a social phenomenon, they are participating in evaluation research. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Explanatory Research; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 13. The true experimental design is a very strong research method for determining the effects of programs or policies. *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Evaluation Research; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 14. Evaluation research tests theory whereas explanatory research is used to determine whether an implemented program or policy had the intended outcomes. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Evaluation Research; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 15. Those who are included in the sample are also included in the population. *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: Population and Samples; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 16. Sampling error can be defined as the difference between the characteristics of a sample and the characteristics of the population from which it was selected. *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: Population and Samples; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 17. Nonprobability sampling methods allow us to know in advance the likelihood that any element will be selected from the population. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: How Do We Obtain a Sample; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 18. If a researcher wanted to obtain a systematic random sample, they would extract clusters from a sample that is available and then sample the element of interest. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: Probability Sampling Techniques; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 19. A reliable measure is one that will produce consistent results as long as the phenomenon being measured is not changing. *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: Validity in Criminological Research: Reliability; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 20. Measurement validity is concerned with the assertion that an independent variable did cause the dependent variable to change. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: Validity in Criminological Research: Causal Validity; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 21. What is descriptive, explanatory and evaluation research? Give two examples of each. *Answers may vary Descriptive research describes the social phenomena that the researcher is investigating. Student should then list two examples of descriptive research. Explanatory research seeks to identify causes and effects of social phenomena, to predict how one phenomenon will change or vary in response to variation in some other phenomenon. Student should then give two examples. Evaluation research seeks to determine the effects of a social program, policy, or other type of intervention. Student should then give two examples. @Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Method in Criminology and Criminal Justice; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: SA 22. Name and discuss the different probability sampling techniques? *a. Answers may vary Simple Random samples, systematic random samples, multistage cluster samples, and weighted or stratified samples. Simple random samples require a procedure that generates numbers or identifies cases of the population for selection strictly on the basis of chance. Every element in the population has a known, equal, and independent chance of being selected. In Systematic random samples the first element is randomly selected but after that the rest of the sample is selected systematically. The first one is randomly selected and then say every 10th or 15th is then selected. This allows for the elimination of deriving a new random number for every case being selected. Multistage cluster samples work toward the sample through successive approximations. First a sample from a list of groups or clusters is taken and then the researcher draws a random sample of elements from within each selected cluster. Weighted or stratified samples select elements based not on an equal chance of being selected but the elements would have a known but unequal chance of being selected. @Answer Location: Probability Sampling Techniques; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: SA 23. What are the different types of nonprobability sampling? *Purposive and judgment *Quota sampling *Availability samples @Answer Location: Nonprobability Sampling Techniques; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: SA 24. What are the differences between descriptive and inferential statistics? *Answers may vary Descriptive statistics are used to describe characteristics of some phenomenon from either a sample or a population. Inferential statistics estimate how likely it is that statistical results based on a random sample are representative to the entire population. Descriptive statistics describe some characteristic, attribute, or phenomenon while inferential statistics allows one to make inferences to an entire population. Inferential statistics allow for the calculation of the sampling error. @Answer Location: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics; Cognitive Domain: Analysis; Question Type: SA 25. What is reliability and validity? Why are they important to statistics? *Answers may vary The answer should discuss what validity is, the two types of validity (measurement and causal) and what reliability is). The answer should also discuss why it is important to ensure the researcher is actually measuring what they want to measure, that a good measure should produce the same results over time, and that the independent variable does cause the dependent variable to change. @Answer Location: Validity in Criminological Research; Cognitive Domain: Analysis; Question Type: SA Chapter 3: Understanding Data Distributions Test Bank 1. Which of the following would best depict nominal level data? *a. Pie chart b. Line graph c. Histogram d. Polygon @ Answer Location: Pie and Bar Charts; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: MC 2. If you ask individuals about the number of times they have been a victim of a serious crime, you would use a ___________________ to illustrate the data collected for this variable. a. frequency polygon *b. histogram c. pie chart d. bar chart @ Answer Location: Histogram; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 3. A researcher using a measure at the ratio level would use a ___________________ to illustrate the data. a. histogram b. bar chart *c. polygon d. pie chart @ Answer Location: Line Graphs or Polygons; Comprehension; Question Type: MC 4. ______________________ groups the values of an interval or ratio level variable into a smaller number of intervals and illustrates the frequencies and percentages for the groups. a. Frequency distribution *b. Grouped frequency distribution c. Cumulative distribution d. Cumulative frequency distribution @ Answer Location: Grouped Frequency Distributions; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: MC 5. A value of a variable that is halfway between the top of an interval and the bottom of the next interval is: a. grouped frequency distribution. b. the real lower limit. c. the real upper limit. *d. the real limit. @ Answer Location: Refinements to a Grouped Frequency Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: MC 6. Given the following grouped distribution, what would the real upper limit be for the group of 6–8? Class Limits f % 0–2 15 31.25 3–5 12 25 6–8 8 16.67 9–11 7 14.58 12–14 4 8.33 15 and higher 2 4.12 Total N 48 a. 8.0 b. 8.05 c. 8.49 *d. 8.5 @ Answer Location: Refinements to a Grouped Frequency Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Analysis; Question Type: MC 7. Using the following frequency distribution, what are the real class limits for the group 11–15? Class Limits f 0–5 45 6–10 36 11–15 15 16–20 25 21–25 18 26–30 19 31–35 10 36–40 8 a. 10.9–15.5 b. 10.5–15.05 c. 10.5–15.4 *d. 10.5–15.5 @ Answer Location: The Shape of a Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: MC 8. After grading the midterm exam, the professors realize that the test was much easier than originally thought. The professors reach the conclusion that the shape of the distribution is: a. normal. b. flat. c. positively skewed. *d. negatively skewed. @Answer Location: The Shape of a Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 9. After conducting a literacy test on inmates, the evaluator realizes that the test was much more difficult than expected. The shape of the distribution would be: a. normal. *b. positively skewed. c. negatively skewed. d. bell-shaped. @ Answer Location: The Shape of a Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 10. Given the following data, which age group had the largest percent change in the hypothetical victimization rate? Age Group Victimization Rate, 2000 Victimization Rate, 2010 15–24 202.36 256.98 25–34 356.20 401.56 35–44 290.12 310.26 45–54 200.15 226.35 55–64 145.65 132.25 65 and older 123.36 119.66 *a. 15–24 b. 25–34 c. 35–44 b. 45–54 @Answer Location: Time Plots; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: MC 11. A researcher would use a pie chart to illustrate data for a variable measured at the interval level. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: Pie and Bar Charts: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 12. Bar charts are best used for nominal and ordinal level data. *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: Pie and Bar Charts; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 13. A research would use a histogram to illustrate data for the variable “number of violent crimes committed.” *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: Histograms; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 14. A grouped frequency distribution groups the values of an interval or ratio level measurement into smaller numbers of intervals. *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: The Role of Statistical Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Evaluation Research; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 15. Class intervals must be mutually exclusive and exhaustive. *a. True b. False @ Answer Location: Grouped Frequency Distributions; Cognitive Domain: Knowledge; Question Type: TF 16. If a researcher was working with an interval level measure to create a grouped frequency distribution with equal intervals and that variable has 25 different values, the researcher would create 6 different intervals. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: Grouped Frequency Distributions; Cognitive Domain: Analysis; Question Type: TF 17. A variable that is measured at the ordinal level can be grouped into a small number of intervals in a grouped frequency distribution. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: Grouped Frequency Distributions; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 18. The largest value of a variable that is grouped into a particular interval would be the real lower limit. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: Refinements to a Grouped Frequency Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 19. The following distribution would be described as a normal distribution. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: The Shape of a Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 20. A negatively skewed distribution has outliers at the left tail of the distribution. a. True *b. False @ Answer Location: The Shape of a Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: TF 21. Discuss the different types of graphical representations (pie charts, bar charts, histograms, and polygons). What are the levels of measurement that can be used with each type of graphical representation? *Answers may vary A pie chart consists of a round “pie” shape divided into parts, or “slices,” where each slice represents a separate value of the variable. The size of each slice of the pie is proportionate to the frequency (or proportion or percentage of the total) for each value; that is, the greater the contribution that a given value makes to the total number of observations, the larger the slice of the pie for that value. The total area of the pie chart should equal the number of observations if you are graphing the frequencies, 1.0 if you are graphing proportions and 100 if you are graphing percentages. These are best used for nominal level data. The bar chart is appropriate for the graphical display of qualitative data only (nominal and ordinal). A bar chart represents the frequencies, proportions, or percents of each value by a vertical or horizontal bar. The width of the bar is equal to 1.0, and the height (or length for a horizontal bar chart) is equal to the value’s frequency, proportion, or percent (it does not matter which because the shape will be the same regardless). When we make the width of the bar equal to 1 and the height (or length) equal to the value’s frequency (or proportion or percent), the total area of a bar in a bar chart corresponds to the area represented by the frequency (or proportion or percent) of that value. A histogram is very much like a bar chart. It is a graph of bars where the width of each bar on the x axis is equal to one (1.0) and the height of the bar on the y axis is equal to the value’s frequency, percent, or proportion. The histogram’s bars are connected to one another, indicating that the underlying measurement continuum is continuous and quantitative. The bars on a histogram are placed on the graph from lowest score to highest score. In the bar chart, the placement of the values along the x axis was arbitrary. These can be used with interval and ratio level variables. A polygon or line graph can be used with continuous data. With a polygon, the frequency (or percent or proportion) is represented by point or dot above each score, rather than by a rectangular bar, where the height of the point corresponds to the magnitude of the frequency. @Answer Location: The Tabular and Graphical Displays of Qualitative Data and the Tabular and Graphical Displays of Quantitative Data; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: SA 22. Complete the following table: Number of Victimizations f cf % c% 0–1 22 2–3 53 4–5 20 6–7 15 8–9 18 10–11 7 *a. Number of Victimizations f cf % c% 0–1 22 22 16.3 16.3 2–3 53 75 39.3 55.6 4–5 20 95 14.8 70.4 6–7 15 110 11.1 81.5 8–9 18 128 13.3 94.8 10–11 7 135 5.2 100 @Answer Location: The Tabular and Graphical Display of Quantitative Data; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: SA 23. Given the following data, create a grouped frequency distribution and state the real class limits of each interval. Score f 0 5 1 2 2 9 3 3 4 5 5 4 6 9 7 3 8 3 9 8 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 4 14 7 *Grouped Frequency Distribution Class Interval Real Class Limits Frequency 0–4 0–4.5 24 5–9 4.5–9.5 27 10–14 9.5–14.5 26 @Answer Location: Grouped Frequency Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: SA 24. Discuss a normal distribution, a positively skewed distribution, and a negatively skewed distribution. *Answers may vary A normal distribution is a distribution that is symmetrical, which means that if you drew a line down the center of the distribution, the left half would look exactly like the right half. A normal distribution has a single peak in the middle of the distribution, with fewer and fewer cases as you move away from this middle. The ends of a distribution of continuous scores are often called the “tails” of the distribution. A distribution has both a left or negative tail and a right or positive tail. A positive skew has the long tail of the distribution to the right, and the right side of the number line moves toward positive numbers. In a distribution with a positive skew, therefore, most of the scores cluster at lower values of the variable and there is a long right tail, indicating that there are a lot of high values with few cases at each value. A negative skew has the long tail of the distribution to the left, and the left side. Most of the scores cluster at the higher end of the variable. @Answer Location: The Shape of a Distribution; Cognitive Domain: Comprehension; Question Type: SA 25. What are time plots and when are they useful to use in research? *Answers may vary A time plot is simply a graphical display of a variable’s values over some unit of time (year, month, week, etc.). It is actually a type of line graph where the height of the line on the y axis reflects some attribute of the value (a frequency or a percent) and its length is marked off in units of time on the x axis. In such a time plot, we can easily determine the value of the variable at any given point in time. They are very useful when studying some phenomenon’s change over time. @Answer Location: Time Plots; Cognitive Domain: Application; Question Type: SA