Learning Objectives

  • Explain the basic notion of probability of being in “the long run” compared with predictions of single cases.
     
  • Describe the notion of independence between variables.
     
  • Summarize the difference between probability distributions and empirical distributions.
     
  • Identify the rules of probability.
     
  • Describe how probability distributions are used to test hypotheses.
     
  • State the difference between a null and a research hypothesis.
     
  • Identify areas under the normal curve and how we can transform values from a variable distribution to z scores and determine the probability of their occurrence.
     
  • Describe why probability theory is important for criminological and criminal justice–related research.