5.1. What is Theory?

What is the primary function of a theory as described in the chapter?

According to Paternoster and Bachman (2001), what are two essential characteristics a theory should possess?

What are the fundamental 'building blocks' of any theory?

What is the process of determining how to measure abstract concepts like 'crime' or 'self-control'?

When a third, unobserved variable is the actual cause of a correlation between two other variables, what is this phenomenon called?

Which type of explanation would focus on societal structures to understand why some countries have higher rates of violent crime than others?

A criminologist studying the decision-making process of an individual shoplifter would be using which level of explanation?

According to the 'It’s “Just” a Theory Exercise,' what distinguishes a scientific theory from a layperson's opinion?

What did Sutherland's 1934 definition of criminology encompass?

Besides making sense of observations, what is another primary goal of theories mentioned in the text?

According to the chapter, which of the following research questions would be addressed by a macro-level explanation?

What is the relationship between concepts and variables in a theory?

In the 'It’s “Just” a Theory Exercise,' the author contrasts a psychological perspective with a criminological one by highlighting the impact of what?

Which of the following would NOT be a primary focus of criminological theories as described in the chapter?

The example of using the Marshmallow Test to assess a person's ability to resist temptation is an illustration of what process?

What is the key difference between macro-level and micro-level explanations of crime?

The fact that ice cream sales and murder rates are positively correlated is used in the chapter to illustrate what important theoretical concept?

According to the chapter, why is it important to understand why crime happens?

The 'It’s “Just” a Theory Exercise' uses Darwin’s theory of evolution as an example of a theory that has what characteristic?

A theory that focuses on societal structures is using which level of explanation?

What does the text say happens to theories that have yet to be falsified after more investigation?

Which term describes concepts after they have been defined for measurement?

In the example of the author's changing perspective, what subject did they major in as an undergraduate that gave them a sense of being in control of everything?

A theory that focuses on 'processual differences' would be categorized at which level?

What is the key flaw in claiming that ice cream causes people to kill, based on their correlated rates?

The statement 'theories should attempt to portray the world accurately and must “fit the facts”' is attributed to whom?

A research study that examines why young people as a group commit more crime than older people is an example of what type of explanation?

What must criminologists do with concepts like 'crime' and 'delinquency' before using them in a theory?

What is the relationship between a theory and a hypothesis?

The personal story in the 'It’s “Just” a Theory Exercise' suggests that one's childhood friends may be based more on proximity than on deep personal connection. This is an example of what?

Which of the following would be an example of a concept that needs to be defined and operationalized in a criminological theory?

A criminologist who tests a theory by modifying it based on research findings is engaging in what process?

Why do theories strive to make predictions about crime?

Which of the following is NOT one of the three components of Sutherland's (1934) definition of criminology?

What is the primary focus of micro-level explanations?

The chapter mentions 'crime, delinquency, and deviance' as examples of what?

If a researcher claims that sunny days cause both ice cream sales and murder rates to increase, what is the 'third variable' in this explanation?

What does it mean for a scientific theory to be 'falsifiable'?

A theory about crime that focuses on 'differences among individuals' is using which focus described in the text?

The author's personal story in the 'It’s “Just” a Theory Exercise' primarily serves to illustrate what concept?

If a theory is unable to 'fit the facts,' what does this suggest according to Paternoster and Bachman?

Which of the following would be an example of a layperson's opinion rather than a scientific theory?

The author of the chapter mentions that they did not choose their parents, their income, or where they lived. This is used to illustrate the influence of what?

What is the result of operationalization?

If a criminologist wants to study the concept of 'deviance,' what is the first step they must take according to the text?

The main purpose of a theory is to do what?

Why must researchers be cautious when observing a correlation between two variables?

Which level of explanation would be most concerned with how societal inequality affects crime rates across different neighborhoods?

What is the consequence of a theory having its hypotheses repeatedly supported by research?

When the author discusses being influenced by their parents' income and where they lived, they are referring to factors that are part of what?