Page 1 of 77
CMY3709 – QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN
CRIMINOLOGY (UNISA) QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
CMY3709 – Quantitative Research Methodology in Criminology (UNISA 2026)
Questions 1–25: Foundations of Quantitative Research
1. A criminology student is examining the philosophical foundation of quantitative research
and must identify which perspective focuses on knowledge as observable, testable, and
measurable, so which of the following best describes this perspective?
A. Interpretivism
B. Positivism
C. Constructivism
D. Critical theory
Answer: B. Rationale: Positivism is the philosophical perspective that focuses on knowledge as
observable, testable, and measurable, forming the foundation of quantitative research in
criminology.
2. A researcher is comparing quantitative and qualitative approaches and must identify the
defining characteristic of quantitative criminological research, so which of the following is
most accurate?
A. It relies on subjective interpretations of participants
B. It uses statistical techniques to study crime and criminal behaviour
C. It focuses exclusively on individual case studies
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,Page 2 of 77
D. It avoids numerical data entirely
Answer: B. Rationale: Quantitative criminological research is defined as the use of statistical
techniques to study crime, criminal behaviour, and justice system responses.
3. A criminologist is designing a study and must distinguish between nomothetic and
idiographic research strategies, so which of the following best describes a nomothetic
strategy?
A. It focuses on unique cases and contexts
B. It seeks generalisable laws of crime common in quantitative research
C. It avoids comparisons across cases
D. It relies solely on qualitative data
Answer: B. Rationale: A nomothetic strategy seeks generalisable laws of crime, which is
common in quantitative research, whereas an idiographic strategy focuses on unique cases or
contexts.
4. A researcher is applying the scientific method to a criminological study and must identify
the correct sequence of steps, so which of the following correctly represents the scientific
research process?
A. Data analysis, hypothesis formulation, data collection, theory development
B. Theory, hypothesis, data collection, data analysis, conclusion
C. Conclusion, hypothesis, data collection, theory development
D. Data collection, theory development, hypothesis, conclusion
Answer: B. Rationale: The scientific method follows the sequence of theory development,
hypothesis formulation, data collection, data analysis, and drawing conclusions.
5. A criminology student is distinguishing between pure and applied research and must
identify the primary purpose of applied research, so which of the following is most accurate?
A. To develop new theories without practical application
B. To address specific practical problems and inform policy or practice
C. To explore abstract concepts for academic knowledge only
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D. To replicate existing studies without modification
Answer: B. Rationale: Applied research addresses specific practical problems and aims to inform
policy or practice, distinguishing it from pure research.
6. A researcher is explaining why quantitative methods are valuable in criminology and must
identify a key advantage, so which of the following is a primary advantage of quantitative
research?
A. It provides rich, detailed narratives of individual experiences
B. It allows for generalisation of findings to larger populations
C. It eliminates the need for ethical considerations
D. It requires no statistical knowledge
Answer: B. Rationale: A key advantage of quantitative research is its ability to generalise
findings to larger populations through statistical analysis.
7. A criminologist is evaluating the limitations of quantitative research and must identify a
major limitation, so which of the following is a primary limitation?
A. It cannot measure crime rates
B. It may oversimplify complex social phenomena
C. It cannot be used in criminology
D. It requires no theoretical framework
Answer: B. Rationale: A major limitation of quantitative research is that it may oversimplify
complex social phenomena by reducing them to numerical variables.
8. A student is reviewing the history of quantitative criminology and must identify the scholar
often associated with the positivist school of criminology, so which of the following is correct?
A. Cesare Beccaria
B. Cesare Lombroso
C. Edwin Sutherland
D. Travis Hirschi
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Answer: B. Rationale: Cesare Lombroso is associated with the positivist school of criminology,
which applied scientific methods to the study of crime.
9. A researcher is designing a study on juvenile delinquency and must distinguish between a
concept and a variable, so which of the following best describes a variable?
A. An abstract idea that cannot be measured
B. A measurable characteristic that can take on different values
C. A fixed constant in a research study
D. A theoretical perspective
Answer: B. Rationale: A variable is a measurable characteristic that can take on different values,
distinguishing it from an abstract concept.
10. A criminologist is explaining the concept of operationalisation and must identify its
purpose, so which of the following is most accurate?
A. To define how a concept will be measured in a study
B. To develop new theories of crime
C. To analyse qualitative data
D. To recruit research participants
Answer: A. Rationale: Operationalisation involves defining how abstract concepts will be
measured in a study, making them observable and testable.
11. A student is reviewing the characteristics of scientific knowledge and must identify how it
differs from everyday knowledge, so which of the following is a distinguishing feature?
A. It is based on tradition and authority
B. It is systematic, empirical, and self-correcting
C. It relies solely on intuition
D. It cannot be challenged or revised
Answer: B. Rationale: Scientific knowledge is systematic, empirical, and self-correcting,
distinguishing it from everyday or prescientific knowledge.
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CMY3709 – QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN
CRIMINOLOGY (UNISA) QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
CMY3709 – Quantitative Research Methodology in Criminology (UNISA 2026)
Questions 1–25: Foundations of Quantitative Research
1. A criminology student is examining the philosophical foundation of quantitative research
and must identify which perspective focuses on knowledge as observable, testable, and
measurable, so which of the following best describes this perspective?
A. Interpretivism
B. Positivism
C. Constructivism
D. Critical theory
Answer: B. Rationale: Positivism is the philosophical perspective that focuses on knowledge as
observable, testable, and measurable, forming the foundation of quantitative research in
criminology.
2. A researcher is comparing quantitative and qualitative approaches and must identify the
defining characteristic of quantitative criminological research, so which of the following is
most accurate?
A. It relies on subjective interpretations of participants
B. It uses statistical techniques to study crime and criminal behaviour
C. It focuses exclusively on individual case studies
1|Page
,Page 2 of 77
D. It avoids numerical data entirely
Answer: B. Rationale: Quantitative criminological research is defined as the use of statistical
techniques to study crime, criminal behaviour, and justice system responses.
3. A criminologist is designing a study and must distinguish between nomothetic and
idiographic research strategies, so which of the following best describes a nomothetic
strategy?
A. It focuses on unique cases and contexts
B. It seeks generalisable laws of crime common in quantitative research
C. It avoids comparisons across cases
D. It relies solely on qualitative data
Answer: B. Rationale: A nomothetic strategy seeks generalisable laws of crime, which is
common in quantitative research, whereas an idiographic strategy focuses on unique cases or
contexts.
4. A researcher is applying the scientific method to a criminological study and must identify
the correct sequence of steps, so which of the following correctly represents the scientific
research process?
A. Data analysis, hypothesis formulation, data collection, theory development
B. Theory, hypothesis, data collection, data analysis, conclusion
C. Conclusion, hypothesis, data collection, theory development
D. Data collection, theory development, hypothesis, conclusion
Answer: B. Rationale: The scientific method follows the sequence of theory development,
hypothesis formulation, data collection, data analysis, and drawing conclusions.
5. A criminology student is distinguishing between pure and applied research and must
identify the primary purpose of applied research, so which of the following is most accurate?
A. To develop new theories without practical application
B. To address specific practical problems and inform policy or practice
C. To explore abstract concepts for academic knowledge only
2|Page
,Page 3 of 77
D. To replicate existing studies without modification
Answer: B. Rationale: Applied research addresses specific practical problems and aims to inform
policy or practice, distinguishing it from pure research.
6. A researcher is explaining why quantitative methods are valuable in criminology and must
identify a key advantage, so which of the following is a primary advantage of quantitative
research?
A. It provides rich, detailed narratives of individual experiences
B. It allows for generalisation of findings to larger populations
C. It eliminates the need for ethical considerations
D. It requires no statistical knowledge
Answer: B. Rationale: A key advantage of quantitative research is its ability to generalise
findings to larger populations through statistical analysis.
7. A criminologist is evaluating the limitations of quantitative research and must identify a
major limitation, so which of the following is a primary limitation?
A. It cannot measure crime rates
B. It may oversimplify complex social phenomena
C. It cannot be used in criminology
D. It requires no theoretical framework
Answer: B. Rationale: A major limitation of quantitative research is that it may oversimplify
complex social phenomena by reducing them to numerical variables.
8. A student is reviewing the history of quantitative criminology and must identify the scholar
often associated with the positivist school of criminology, so which of the following is correct?
A. Cesare Beccaria
B. Cesare Lombroso
C. Edwin Sutherland
D. Travis Hirschi
3|Page
, Page 4 of 77
Answer: B. Rationale: Cesare Lombroso is associated with the positivist school of criminology,
which applied scientific methods to the study of crime.
9. A researcher is designing a study on juvenile delinquency and must distinguish between a
concept and a variable, so which of the following best describes a variable?
A. An abstract idea that cannot be measured
B. A measurable characteristic that can take on different values
C. A fixed constant in a research study
D. A theoretical perspective
Answer: B. Rationale: A variable is a measurable characteristic that can take on different values,
distinguishing it from an abstract concept.
10. A criminologist is explaining the concept of operationalisation and must identify its
purpose, so which of the following is most accurate?
A. To define how a concept will be measured in a study
B. To develop new theories of crime
C. To analyse qualitative data
D. To recruit research participants
Answer: A. Rationale: Operationalisation involves defining how abstract concepts will be
measured in a study, making them observable and testable.
11. A student is reviewing the characteristics of scientific knowledge and must identify how it
differs from everyday knowledge, so which of the following is a distinguishing feature?
A. It is based on tradition and authority
B. It is systematic, empirical, and self-correcting
C. It relies solely on intuition
D. It cannot be challenged or revised
Answer: B. Rationale: Scientific knowledge is systematic, empirical, and self-correcting,
distinguishing it from everyday or prescientific knowledge.
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