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Chapter 1
What Is Criminology?
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What Is Crime?
Human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws, and for which there is some form of authorized sanction.
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What is Deviance?
Deviance is human activity that violates social norms or is statistically different from the average.
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4. The Overlap Between Crime and Deviance
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What is Criminology?
An interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behaviour, including their forms, causes, legal aspects, and control.
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6. What Do Criminologists Do?
A criminologist is one who studies crime, criminals, and criminal behaviour.
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7. Theoretical Perspectives in Criminology
The Consensus Perspective
The Pluralistic Perspective
The Social Conflict Perspective
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8. The Consensus Perspective
Core values exist within society
Laws reflect the collective will of the people
Laws serve all people equally
Those who violate the law represent a unique subgroup of the population
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9. The Pluralistic Perspective
Many diverse social groups exist within society
Each social group has its own characteristic set of values, beliefs, and interests
Formalized laws are viewed as useful in the settlement of disputes
The legal system is value-neutral
The legal system is concerned with the best interests of society
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10. The Social Conflict Perspective
Society is comprised of diverse social groups
Each group has different definitions of right and wrong
Conflict between groups is unavoidable
Group conflict centers on the exercise of political power
Law is a tool of power
The powerful strive to keep their power
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11. Theoretical Perspectives: What Should Be Criminal?
Consensus
Perspective
Laws should be enacted to criminalize certain forms of behaviour when members of society agree that such laws are necessary.
Pluralist Perspective
Behaviours are criminalized through a political process only after debate over the appropriate course of action.
Social Conflict Perspective
Laws are a tool of power used to further the interests of those powerful enough to make them.
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12. The Science of Criminology
Present-day criminology:
is more scientific than in the past
is amenable to objective scrutiny
identifies relationships among gathered facts
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13. The Goal of Research Within Criminology
To construct theories or models that allow for a better understanding of criminal behaviour and permit development of strategies to address the problem of crime.
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Definitions
What is Research?
The use of standardized, systematic procedures in the search for knowledge.
What is a Theory?
A series of interrelated propositions which
attempt to describe, explain, predict, and
ultimately control some class of events.
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15. Different Types of Research
Applied research
Pure research
Primary research
Secondary research
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16. Stages of Scientific Research
Problem Identification
Research Design
Data Collection
Review of Findings
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17. Problem Identification
Determine what will be studied
Identify a hypothesis
Translate concepts into measurable variables
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Research Design
Confounding Effects
Other explanations for findings
“Competing hypotheses”
Threatens internal or external validity
Controlled Experiments
Attempt to hold conditions constant
Quasi-experimental Designs
Especially valuable when constancy of conditions is not possible
Give researchers control over the when and to whom of measurement
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Data Collection
Surveys
Case Studies
Participant Observation
Self-Reporting
Secondary Analysis
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Review of Findings
Quantitative Methods
produce measurable results which can be
analyzed statistically
Qualitative Methods
produce subjective results, or results that are
different to quantify
Statistical Analysis
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Values and Ethics
Researchers must:
safeguard human subjects
preserve privacy
disclose methodology
protect confidentiality of data
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22. Social Policy and Theory
Social Problems Perspective
Crime is a manifestation of social problems
Social Responsibility Perspective
Crime is an individual responsibility
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23. Social Problems Versus Social Responsibility
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24. The Social Context of Crime
crime is a social event
crime is a social construction
crime embraces the concept of social relativity
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25. The Social Context of Crime
Crime means different things to the
offender
victim
society
justice system
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26. The Primacy of Sociology
Crime is social in nature and controlled by effective social policy.
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