example of illogical reasoning in criminal justice

The most common means for data analysis today is through the use of a computer and statistically oriented software. In addition to anxiety and apprehension over the course material, research methods can be boring if you only read and learn about it with no particular purpose in mind. If the odds of success are unlikely, it is illogical to assume that by sheer willpower it can be made to occur. Research methods provide the researcher with the tools necessary to test current knowledge and discover new knowledge. Examples of actual research studies in the areas of police, courts, and corrections were also provided in this chapter to demonstrate the research process in action and to illustrate how research has significantly impacted practices within the criminal justice system. What myths about crime and criminal justice have been dispelled through research? As the introductory chapter in this text, this chapter also provided an overview of the steps in the research process from selecting a topic and conducting a literature review at the beginning of a research study to reporting findings, results, and limitations at the end of the study. (2006). Apply Now Request Info Search Facebook Twitter Military Branch Army Navy Air Force Marines Coast Guard Lifestyle Spouses Well Being View All (2000). it is illogical and counterproductive to operate on policies derived primarily from politics, I view research methods as a subject that I will rarely use. Today, the study remains one of the most highly cited pieces of corrections research. In this research design, documents, publications, or presentations are reviewed and analyzed. A personal statement should have several key components. There was a question of whether there was a difference between the rules to the extent that jurors understood each rule and could capably apply it. For example, a professor might have her students complete a survey during class to understand the relationship between drug use and self-esteem. What group, subjects, or population will be studied and selected? Research on the courts component of the criminal justice system, while far from complete, has produced direct effects on the operations of the criminal justice system. 27 Masters, Ruth E., Lori Beth Way, Phyllis B. Gerstenfeld, Bernadette T. Muscat, Michael Hooper, John P. J. Dussich, Lester Pincu, and Candice A. Skrapec. (2006). Previously, sources of knowledge development were discussed, including authority, tradition, common sense, personal experience, and media portrayals. Inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning examples criminal justice. 21 Beer compound shows potent promise in prostate cancer battle. Press release from Oregon State University May 30, 2006. http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2006/may/beer-compound-shows-potent-promise-prostate-cancer-battle. Demystifying crime and criminal justice. So, what does the research show? Washington, DC: Police Foundation. Some of that knowledge is based on personal experience and common sense. The problem of student apprehension and anxiety related to taking a research methods course is not new and has been studied for over 25 years. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, p. 19. My academy training was about four years after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Tennessee v. Garner.7 In this case, the Court limited the use of deadly force by police to defense of life situations and incidents where the suspect committed a violent offense. Syllogisms are used in everyday life, but they also have applications in the criminal justice system. It is important to note that although this section will focus on the failings of these knowledge sources, they each can be, and certainly are, accurate at times, and thus are valuable sources of knowledge. (2006). The knowledge gained may include that being disrespectful during future traffic stops will get this person out of future tickets. 76 Example is excerpted from Amy B. Thistlethwaite and John D. Wooldredge. One seminal study asked: How important is it for the police to respond quickly when a citizen calls? Overall, this research showed that judges focused primarily on legal factors (offense severity and prior record) when determining the sentences of convicted offenders. But you would have to drink more than 17 pints of beer to consume a medically effective dose of xanthohumol, which is almost a case of beer. What are the primary sources of knowledge development, and what are the problems with each? In practice, the researcher can go back and forth between the steps in the research process. Research has shown that female patrol officers are less likely to be involved in high-speed pursuits, incidents of deadly force, and the use of excessive force. Questions arose, however, regarding whether juries differed in their understanding of MNaghten versus Durham and, in turn, whether this resulted in differences in their ability to make informed decisions regarding criminal responsibility in cases involving the insanity defense. frequently simplistic and illogical. Such a system would help establish uniform, consistent treatment of those on probation and would also help departments allocate their resources efficiently and effectively. Much of it is based on the information and images supported by politicians, governmental agencies, and especially the media. First, surveys were completed after all citizen-initiated calls (excluding automobile accidents) that involved contact with a police officer. 18 Best, Joel. 13 Finckenauer, James O. 14 Yarborough, J.C. (1979). Although this is certainly a good start, similar research (i.e., replication) needs to be completed with larger student samples in different locations throughout the country before the actual quality of the D.RA.MA. Identification and recognition of inequities in our justice system (in this case that young, African American males are punished more severely in our justice system) is the first step in mitigating this inequity. Women failed these tests more often than men, and thus were not eligible to be police officers. Fourth, female officers can improve law enforcements response to violence against women. Perhaps the book has been gathering dust on your shelf since the first day of class and you are not doing well in your research methods class and are looking for the book to help with course improvement. This research study was designed to develop a broader measure of student apprehension in criminal justice research methods courses. Unfortunately, it is not unusual to find students as well as professionals in criminal justice who are unable to fully understand research reports and journal articles in their own field. Los Angeles: Roxbury. (2011). Perhaps you are taking a research methods class in the future and are seeing if all the chatter among students is true. Some authors have presented the research process as a wheel or circle, with no specific beginning or end. Presumed to influence dependent variable - Dependent: assumed to be caused or influenced by another variable Concepts: "Concepts are abstract elements representing classes of phenomena within the field of study" - Examples: Deviance, Alienation, Discrimination - Something can be both a variable and a concept - The more abstract a concept . Rapid response simply did not matter in situations where citizens delayed in reporting the crime. In order to test their hypotheses, the researchers examined sentencing data from Pennsylvania spanning four years (19891992). As is true for all research, this study is not without limitations. Applied Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology by University of North Texas is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. 16 Robertson, Jordan. The findings and results of the study can be communicated through reports, journals, books, or computer presentations. I am not the type to do well in mathematics. Taken altogether, the analysis revealed that African American males aged 1829 years maintained the highest odds of incarceration and the longest sentences relative to any other race, sex, and age group. Los Angeles: Roxbury. The researchers made several recommendations to address the limitations of using probation for felony offenders. The myth that white-collar crime is only about financial loss. 2028 in Bohm, Robert M., and Jeffrey T. Walker. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples The witness feels certain that the person viewed is the person who committed the offense, but sometimes the witness is wrong. This is a restrictive research method that does not allow for observations that fall . Other times, records wind up assigned to the wrong people with a common name. Several data sources were used in the study. The study reviewed in this section asked the following research question: Are jurors able to understand different legal rules for establishing a defendants criminal responsibility? The sentences they examined included whether a convicted defendant was incarcerated in prison or jail, and the length of incarceration in prison or jail. The myth of racial profiling. 97103 in Bohm, Robert M., and Jeffrey T. Walker. All research has limitations, so it is incumbent on the researcher to identify those limitations for the reader. Two main research questions were answered in this study. The program is based on a false assumption and fails to recognize the substantial risk factors present in the lives of most delinquents that must be mediated before the juvenile can live a crime-free lifestyle. (1981). The myth of policewomen on patrol. 8996 in Bohm, Robert M., and Jeffrey T. Walker. But that does not mean that the myth still doesnt exist. The process of assessing the quality of research will be discussed in Chapter 8. True False Answer: True In simplest terms syllogism states that if A=B and B=C, then A=C. In the prior section, sources of knowledge were discussed along with the limitations of each. Research and development in corrections. Federal Probation 49, 6971. Further, the probation departments in these counties had experienced significant budget cuts. Many departments adopted a differential police response approach. Crime and Deviance in the U.S. Criminal Justice System: Punishment and Due Process Desistance Theory: Definition & Examples The Influence of Structural Transformation on White Collar Crime Authorities often expend significant time and effort to learn something, and we can benefit from their experience and work. For example, a researcher may want to ascertain how a new corrections approach implemented in one state is fairing in another state. Gaining knowledge through actual experiences is known as personal experience knowledge, and it has a powerful and lasting impact on everyone. Rand researchers included time to recidivism in their analysis and found that property and violent offenders recidivated sooner than drug offenders. Ten questions were borrowed from an existing Math Anxiety scale developed by Betz2. Demystifying crime and criminal justice. The myth that correctional rehabilitation does not work. 227238 in Bohm, Robert M., and Jeffrey T. Walker. Objectivity indicates a neutral and nonbiased perspective when conducting research. Despite the increase in the use of probation in the 1980s, few empirical studies of probation (particularly its use with felony offenders) had been published. of the offender's thinking and reasoning skills, their social comprehension, and their problem-solving skills (Ross & . Many believe that there are real examples of children being harmed by razor blades, poison, or other nefarious objects placed in Halloween candy. That is why not all the examples in this text are criminal justice research examples. For example: "If you invest all of your grandmother's inheritance money into buying NFTs, you will lose it all, then you wont be able to buy a car, and if you don't have a car, you can't go to work, and if you can't go to work you won't be able to move out of your mother's house." In addition, research methods reduces the risk of selective observation by requiring that we measure and observe our research subjects systematically. You should challenge yourself for this semester to keep a journal and document exposure to research in your daily life outside of college whether through the nightly news, newspapers, magazine articles, Internet, personal conversations, or other means. States began implementing strict mandatory sentences that resulted in more criminals being sent to prison and for longer periods of time. however, calling it an armenian genocide is rubbish. The myth that the focus of community corrections is rehabilitation. 221226 in Bohm, Robert M., and Jeffrey T. Walker. 37 Cordner, Gary, and Kathryn E. Scarborough. For the Durham version of the case, the psychiatrists stated that the crime resulted from the defendants mental illness, which should have lead to acquittal. Although you will probably not be expected to conduct a research study on your own, it is important for an educated consumer of research to understand the steps in the research process. Demystifying crime and criminal justice. Today, only New Hampshire uses a version of the Durham rule in insanity cases. 2 THE PRACTICE OF RESEARCH IN CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Bachman-Sample.qxd 12/6/2006 11:45 AM Page 2. in explaining a phenomenon may not always be the ones supported by empirical research. First, even though our personal experience may be counter to our belief system, it is hard to admit we were wrong after we have taken a position on an issue. 4. This was the most surprising finding from the study because it challenged one of the basic underlying principles of police patrol. First, it was recommended that states formally acknowledge that the purpose of probation had changed. In addition, this chapter demonstrated the critical importance of becoming an informed consumer of research in both your personal and professional lives. I will need research methods for my future work. Most of the felons sentenced to probation recidivated and researchers were unable to develop an accurate prediction model to improve the courts decision-making. 8 Lombroso-Ferrero, Gina. This is certainly an advantage, but it is also critical that you understand the initial chapters in this book so you are not confused with the content discussed in later chapters. It is a common practice in the criminal justice system, but research has consistently demonstrated inaccuracies in eyewitness identification. Criminal justice and criminological research is important for several reasons. Basically, the remaining steps in the process are completed in order to answer the research question or questions established in this step. As I am writing this, I recall an example of authority knowledge that was wrong during my police academy training in the late 1980s. For example: A colleague screwed up an important presentation because he's lazy and incompetent (not because he also had jet lag). Martinsons article provided policy makers the evidence to justify spending cuts on rehabilitative programs. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Both cases were renamed and the transcripts were edited to constitute a trial of 6090 minutes in length. In the attempt to generate new knowledge, a researcher is skeptical of knowledge that is generated by the sources discussed in the prior section, and this skepticism leads to the questioning of conventional thinking. I guess that begs the question, Why do we still do these types of programs?. Circular Reasoning also called circular logic or circulus in probando is an informal logical fallacy meaning arguer uses the same reason as the conclusion. In false analogy fallacies, you make an assumption about two things that are alike. 2. It is also at this stage that the researcher can pose additional research questions that may now need to be answered as a result of the research study. (2001). If someone were to assess the research literature on a myth or do their own research, she would find that the knowledge based on the myth is wrong. (2006). Even when the research evidence shows otherwise, people who work within programs may still believe they are effective. Demystifying crime and criminal justice. Demystifying crime and criminal justice. Today, half the courts in the United States put criminal records on their public websites. First, has research shown that a defendants age influences his or her chances of being sentenced to death? Brief descriptions of several common research designs are presented below, but each is discussed in detail in later chapters. Assuming that violence in the media has no influence on individual behavior is an example of illogical reasoning. Police response time: Its determinants and effects. The D.RA.MA. These professors understand that a solid understanding of research methods will enrich the qualifications of students for employment and performance in their criminal justice careers. In the this article I learned about how a James Ingraham, a 14 year-old eighth-grader was put through a cruel punishment after he was misbehaving in school. Scared straight! 17 Shelton, D. E. (2008). For example, you may see that a wealthy businesswomen in your community is acquitted of bribery and may conclude that wealthy people, especially women, are never convicted in our criminal justice system, which is an overgeneralization. Students need to realize that research methods are essential tools for assessing agency policies and practices. The benefits for a department are not at the expense of the public. Retrieved on May 7, 2012. Why should you believe research findings if the study is faulty? Practitioners have a tendency to believe that because something was done a particular way in their agency, it is done that way in all agencies. Moving beyond just math anxiety, the researchers accomplished their objective by developing the D.RA.MA. But, how do these inaccuracies occur? Beyond our criminal justice careers, we are all exposed to and use research to help us understand issues and to make personal decisions. This is the topic of Chapter 3, which covers sampling procedures. Overcoming Selective Observation and Faulty Reasoning in Policing Law enforcement officers must learn to recognize their unconscious biases like selective observation to ensure they act justly and ethically. Los Angeles: Roxbury. The study that generated these headlines was conducted by a group of researchers at Oregon State University using cultured cells with purified compounds in a laboratory setting. Halloween sadism is the practice of giving contaminated treats to children during trick or treating.18 In 1985, Joel Best wrote an article entitled, The Myth of the Halloween Sadist.19 His article reviewed press coverage of Halloween sadism in the leading papers in the three largest metropolitan areas (New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune) from 19581984. (2010). Other experiments conducted on Scared Straight-type programs further revealed their inability to deter juveniles from further delinquency.15 Despite the common sense popularity of these programs, the evaluations showed that Scared Straight programs do not reduce delinquency and, in some instances, may actually increase delinquency. Has the research shown that the CSI Effect exists and is impacting the criminal justice system? For some reason, even though I study, math seems unusually hard for me. Data analysis and statistics are discussed in Chapter 9. Demystifying crime and criminal justice. In the past, it was common for police agencies to require all police applicants to meet a minimum height requirement to be considered for employment. Over 1,100 surveys were completed. It seems clear that besides the death penalty, the most severe punishment available in our criminal justice system is to lock up offenders in prison. In addition, this book assumes that practical and evaluative knowledge of research methods is more useful than theoretical knowledge of the development of research methods and the relationship between theory and research. The problem with knowledge gained from personal experiences is that personal experiences can be unique and unreliable, which can distort reality and lead us to believe things that are actually false. Informed consumers of books C. Experts in the department D. Expert readers Federal Probation 54, 2327. Selective observation is choosing, either consciously or unconsciously, to pay attention to and remember events that support our personal preferences and beliefs. However, researchers should not dismiss all knowledge from the prior sources discussed, because, as mentioned, these sources of knowledge are sometimes accurate and certainly have their place in the development of knowledge. All of the treatment studies included at least one measure of offender recidivism, such as whether or not offenders were rearrested or violated their parole. So, what does the research show? Research does not show any consistent differences in how male and female patrol officers perform their duties. Not likely. You are exposed to research findings in the media (e.g., television, newspapers, and online), in personal interaction with others (e.g., friends and family, doctors, and professors), as well as in class. Each juror submitted a written statement with his or her initial decision on the case before jury deliberations, and the juries final decisions after deliberation were also reported. For example, the research consistently shows that a persons demeanor significantly impacts the decision-making of police officers. Here's an example of an inductive argument: Observation (premise): My Welsh Corgis were incredibly stubborn and independent (specific observation of behavior). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. According to Rand researchers, these findings raised serious doubts about the effectiveness of probation for felony offenders. Four general errors in every day reasoning: 1. If so, can the researcher approach the subject from a previously unexamined perspective? Taking what is learned throughout this text, critical evaluation of research is covered in Chapter 8, and upon completing this text, it is hoped that you will be an informed consumer of research and will put your research knowledge to use throughout your career. Chapter 9: Basic Statistics for Consumers, Understanding and Measuring Student Apprehension in Criminal Justice Research Methods Courses1. Illogical reasoning occurs when someone jumps to premature conclusions or presents an argument that is based on invalid assumptions. No matter how you got here, two things are probably true. The first is psychodynamic theory, which is centered on the notion that an individual's early childhood experience influences his or her likelihood for committing future crimes. When the officers were not answering calls for service, they remained in their assigned beats so they could immediately respond to an emergency. Many times, research topics have been previously explored but not brought to completion. Research methods are tools that allow criminology and criminal justice researchers to systematically study crime and the criminal justice system. If you are like most students we have experienced in our research methods courses in the past, you are not initially interested in this course and are concerned about whether you will do well in it. Therefore, this book is written with the assumption that students have not had a prior class on research methods. Los Angeles: Roxbury. (1985). 3. As a student in criminal justice, you have probably experienced something similar in interaction with friends, relatives, and neighbors. Earlier we discussed the process of building an argument with claims and evidence and how warrants are the underlying justifications that connect the two. (2006). An example is Halloween sadism. Alcohol, drugs, and violence. Annual Review of Sociology 24, 291311, p. 291. As one example among many, the prosecutor sought to convey to the jury the notion that Islam endorses harsh penalties for those who violate its scriptures. 34 Goldstein, P, H. Brownstein, and P. Ryan. It is important to note that just because someone uses a logical fallacy, their claim may not necessarily be wrong, it simply means that the arguer has not provided either enough, or the right kind, of . This goal is based on the belief that an understanding of research methods allows criminal justice practitioners to be better able to make use of the results of research as it applies to their work-related duties. The next step in the research process is the collection of the data based on the research design developed. An argument in academic writing is essentially a conclusion or claim, with assumptions or reasons to support that claim. One of the advantages of taking a research methods course is that you learn about the process of research methods. Reporting and interpreting the results of the study make up the final step in the research process. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. Chapter 6: Qualitative Research in Criminal Justice, 8. at the end of the day, poorly-planned decisions and cruel behaviour always happen during war, and it was expected from the turks due to the treachery of the armenian population. To do this, he put a teenage friend of. For example, if a researcher wanted to learn more about gangs and their activities, he may hang out with a gang in order to observe their behavior. Second, it can promote better decision-making. The third chapter, the criminal trial, the criminal trial, is mainly deductive in that it considers each piece of evidence with respect to the hypothesis that the accused person is guilty of the . Persuasive speakers should be concerned with what strengthens and weakens an argument. It is common for a detective to assess the initial evidence and make an initial determination of who committed the murder. Jasper Juinen/Getty Images. The power of research is the ability to dispel myths. In a logical fallacy, the arguer does not provide enough evidence to support their claim. 3. Violent crime was on the rise, and many politicians placed the blame on the criminal justice system. Chapter 1: The Importance of Research Methods and Becoming an Informed Consumer of Research, 2. The survey instrument consisted of questions to assess the length of time to respond to a call and the outcome of the call (i.e., arrest). Chapter 8: Putting It All Together: Understanding and Assessing Criminal Justice Research, 9. Recall her finding that the Durham rule produced inconsistent verdicts. More specifically, we may assume that politicians know best about how to reduce crime and increase the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The driver and passenger exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Los Angeles: Roxbury. Jimbo: You're saying that . Second, you have heard negative comments about this course. As discussed in the next section, research methods involve a process and once you understand the process, you can apply your knowledge to any research study, even those in other disciplines. First, female officers are as competent as their male counterparts. Studies have shown that female officers are more patient and understanding in handling domestic violence calls, and female victims of domestic violence are more likely to provide positive evaluations of female officers than their male counterparts.52. The negative comments mention the difficulty of the course and the relevance of the course (e.g., I am going to be a police officer, so why do I need to take a research methods course?).

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