Question

Drew, a criminology professor, observes that areas with low levels of literacy generally have high crime rates. If he follows the steps in theory building, what is he most likely to do next?

a) Propose a new criminological theory
b) Collect more data to test his observation
c) Disregard the observation as coincidental
d) Publish his observation without further research

Answer 1

Drew, the criminology professor, is most likely to collect more data to test his observation about literacy levels and crime rates, following the standard steps in theory building and formulating a hypothesis to guide his research. The correct answer is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

After Drew, the criminology professor, observes that areas with low levels of literacy generally have high crime rates, if he follows the steps in theory building, he is most likely to collect more data to test his observation. This involves formulating a hypothesis, such as if literacy levels in a community increase, then crime rates will decrease. He would then design a research study, possibly including a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, to gather data that is representative and can help in identifying causal relationships. It is essential to utilize existing data from justice systems and demographic studies and consider how variables like neighborhood conditions can influence crime rates according to the Social Disorganization Theory. Drew should be rigorous during this process to avoid confirmation biases that only support his initial observations and to ensure that his findings are robust and generalizable. The correct answer is B.