copyright © 2008 pearson education canada inc. 1 - 1 what is criminology? chapter 1

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc.Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 1 - 1 - 11

What Is Criminology?

Chapter 1

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 1 - 2

What Is Crime?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.


What is Deviance?What is Deviance?

Deviance is human activity Deviance is human activity that violates social norms or is that violates social norms or is statistically different from the statistically different from the average. average.


The Overlap Between The Overlap Between Crime and DevianceCrime and Deviance


What is Criminology?What is Criminology?

An interdisciplinary profession An interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behaviour, of crime and criminal behaviour, including their forms, causes, including their forms, causes, legal aspects, and control.legal aspects, and control.


What Do Criminologists What Do Criminologists Do?Do?

A criminologist is one who A criminologist is one who studies crime, criminals, and studies crime, criminals, and criminal behaviour. criminal behaviour.


Theoretical Perspectives in Theoretical Perspectives in CriminologyCriminology

►The Consensus PerspectiveThe Consensus Perspective

►The Pluralistic PerspectiveThe Pluralistic Perspective

►The Social Conflict PerspectiveThe Social Conflict Perspective


The Consensus The Consensus PerspectivePerspective

►Core values exist within societyCore values exist within society►Laws reflect the collective will of the Laws reflect the collective will of the

peoplepeople►Laws serve all people equallyLaws serve all people equally►Those who violate the law represent a Those who violate the law represent a

unique subgroup of the populationunique subgroup of the population


The The PluralisticPluralistic PerspectivePerspective

►Many diverse social groups exist within Many diverse social groups exist within societysociety

►Each social group has its own Each social group has its own characteristic set of values, beliefs, and characteristic set of values, beliefs, and interestsinterests

►Formalized laws are viewed as useful in Formalized laws are viewed as useful in the settlement of disputesthe settlement of disputes

►The legal system is value-neutralThe legal system is value-neutral►The legal system is concerned with the The legal system is concerned with the

best interests of societybest interests of society


The Social Conflict The Social Conflict PerspectivePerspective

►Society is comprised of diverse social Society is comprised of diverse social groupsgroups

►Each group has different definitions of Each group has different definitions of right and wrongright and wrong

►Conflict between groups is unavoidableConflict between groups is unavoidable►Group conflict centers on the exercise of Group conflict centers on the exercise of

political powerpolitical power►Law is a tool of powerLaw is a tool of power►The powerful strive to keep their powerThe powerful strive to keep their power


Theoretical Perspectives:Theoretical Perspectives:What Should Be Criminal?What Should Be Criminal?

ConsensusConsensusPerspective Perspective

► Laws should Laws should be enacted to be enacted to criminalize criminalize certain forms certain forms of behaviour of behaviour when when members of members of society agree society agree that such laws that such laws are necessary.are necessary.

Pluralist Pluralist PerspectivePerspective

► Behaviours are Behaviours are criminalized criminalized through a through a political process political process only after only after debate over the debate over the appropriate appropriate course of course of action.action.

Social Conflict Social Conflict PerspectivePerspective

►Laws are a Laws are a tool of power tool of power used to further used to further the interests of the interests of those powerful those powerful enough to enough to make them.make them.


The Science of CriminologyThe Science of Criminology

Present-day criminology:Present-day criminology:

► is more scientific than in the pastis more scientific than in the past► is amenable to objective scrutinyis amenable to objective scrutiny► identifies relationships among identifies relationships among

gathered factsgathered facts


The Goal of Research The Goal of Research Within CriminologyWithin Criminology

To construct theories or models that To construct theories or models that allow for a better understanding of allow for a better understanding of criminal behaviour and permit criminal behaviour and permit development of strategies to address development of strategies to address the problem of crime.the problem of crime.


DefinitionsDefinitions

What is Research?What is Research?The use of The use of standardizedstandardized, , systematicsystematic procedures in the procedures in the search for search for knowledge.knowledge.

What is a Theory?What is a Theory?A series of A series of interrelated interrelated propositions which propositions which

attempt to attempt to describedescribe, , explainexplain, , predictpredict, and , and

ultimately ultimately controlcontrol some class of some class of events.events.


Different Types of ResearchDifferent Types of Research

►Applied researchApplied research

►Pure researchPure research

►Primary researchPrimary research

►Secondary researchSecondary research


Stages of Scientific Stages of Scientific ResearchResearch

Problem IdentificationProblem Identification Research DesignResearch Design Data CollectionData Collection Review of FindingsReview of Findings


ProblemProblem IdentificationIdentification

Determine what will be studiedDetermine what will be studied Identify a hypothesisIdentify a hypothesis Translate concepts into Translate concepts into

measurable variablesmeasurable variables


Research DesignResearch Design

Confounding EffectsConfounding Effects Other explanations for findingsOther explanations for findings ““Competing hypotheses”Competing hypotheses” Threatens internal or external validityThreatens internal or external validity

Controlled ExperimentsControlled Experiments Attempt to hold conditions constantAttempt to hold conditions constant

Quasi-experimental DesignsQuasi-experimental Designs Especially valuable when constancy of Especially valuable when constancy of

conditions is not possibleconditions is not possible Give researchers control over the Give researchers control over the when and when and

to whom of measurementto whom of measurement


Data CollectionData Collection

SurveysSurveys Case StudiesCase Studies Participant ObservationParticipant Observation Self-ReportingSelf-Reporting Secondary AnalysisSecondary Analysis


Review of FindingsReview 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


Values and EthicsValues and Ethics

Researchers must:

safeguard human subjects preserve privacy disclose methodology protect confidentiality of data


Social Policy and TheorySocial Policy and Theory

Social Problems Perspective• Crime is a manifestation of social problems

Social Responsibility Perspective• Crime is an individual responsibility


Social Problems Versus Social Problems Versus Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility


The Social Context of The Social Context of CrimeCrime

►crime is a social eventcrime is a social event

►crime is a social constructioncrime is a social construction

►crime embraces the concept of social crime embraces the concept of social relativityrelativity


The Social Context of The Social Context of CrimeCrime

Crime means different things to Crime means different things to thethe► offenderoffender►victimvictim► societysociety►justice systemjustice system


The Primacy of The Primacy of SociologySociology

Crime is social in nature and Crime is social in nature and controlled by effective social controlled by effective social policy. policy.

copyright © 2008 pearson education canada inc. 1 - 1 what is criminology? chapter 1

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