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COPYRIGHT © 2015 CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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CHAPTER 1:AN INTRODUCTION TO THEORY
COPYRIGHT © 2015 CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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OUTLINE
What is Theory? Components of Scientific Theories Philosophical Assumptions Paradigms
Evaluating Theories Defining Crime Theory is important!
COPYRIGHT © 2015 CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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WHAT IS A THEORY?
An explanation Theories of crime explain HOW things
are RELATED to criminal behavior. Things related to crime include:
Human nature Biological things Psychological things Sociological things Some combination of them all
COPYRIGHT © 2015 CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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COMPONENTS OF SCIENTIFIC THEORIES
Concepts Definitions of Concepts Propositions
COPYRIGHT © 2015 CAROLINA ACADEMIC PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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COMPONENTS OF SCIENTIFIC THEORIES
Concepts Words or phrases that represent
some phenomenon. Examples: crime, poverty Object of theory is to explain how
concepts are related
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COMPONENTS OF SCIENTIFIC THEORIES
Definitions of Concepts Nominal definitions: Dictionary definitions
Example: Crime is a violation of the criminal law
Operational definitions: Describe how concepts will be measured for research purposes Example: Crime is an offense known to
the police (UCR)
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COMPONENTS OF SCIENTIFIC THEORIES Propositions:
Are interrelated concepts Example: As poverty increases, crime
increases
Types of Propositions: Positive linear relationships Negative linear relationships No relationship Curvilinear relationships
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PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Provide the foundation for all criminological theories
They cannot be tested empirically An empirical (scientific) test uses the human senses
to discover some aspect of the world. Example: Existence of God or people are good Often ignored when examining theories
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3 TYPES OF PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
1. Ethical assumptions Right & Wrong
2. Epistemological assumptions How knowledge is obtained
3. Metaphysical assumptions Nature of reality
Nature of Humans—Ontology Nature of Society—Cosmology
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PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS
Ethical Assumptions AKA normative implications Are ideas about what is good, bad,
right and wrong Focus on what we should do in
response to crime (policy) Conservative, liberal & radical
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