The Practice of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice
Seventh Edition
Learning Objectives
- Give an example of a nomothetic causal explanation and an idiographic causal explanation.
- Discuss the role of the counterfactual in nomothetic causal explanation.
- List the three criteria for establishing a nomothetic causal relationship and the two cautions that can improve understanding of a causal connection.
- Contrast the strengths and weaknesses of dealing with nonspuriousness through statistical control and through randomization.
- Explain the meaning of the expression correlation does not prove causation.
- Name two challenges to using experimental designs and two difficulties with identifying idiographic causal explanations.
- Name and illustrate the three different longitudinal designs.
- Define the individual and group units of analysis and explain the role they play in the ecological and reductionist fallacies.