What term refers to a question about crime that is answered through collection and analysis of empirical data?

What term refers to a question about crime that is answered through collection and analysis of empirical data?

• A. Research question
• B. Hypothesis
• C. Theory
• D. Model

Answer: (A)

A research question in criminology is a question about crime that you answer by collecting and analyzing empirical data. It guides what data you gather and how you examine it, ensuring conclusions are grounded in observations rather than speculation. For example, asking whether the rate of reoffending differs between offenders who participated in a rehabilitation program and those who did not directs you to collect treatment and outcome data and analyze the relationship. This makes it the best fit for a question meant to be resolved through data collection and analysis. A hypothesis, by contrast, is a specific, testable statement about the expected relationship between variables that researchers test with data. A theory offers a broad, general explanation for crime patterns. A model is a simplified representation used to illustrate or predict outcomes.

A research question in criminology is a question about crime that you answer by collecting and analyzing empirical data. It guides what data you gather and how you examine it, ensuring conclusions are grounded in observations rather than speculation. For example, asking whether the rate of reoffending differs between offenders who participated in a rehabilitation program and those who did not directs you to collect treatment and outcome data and analyze the relationship. This makes it the best fit for a question meant to be resolved through data collection and analysis. A hypothesis, by contrast, is a specific, testable statement about the expected relationship between variables that researchers test with data. A theory offers a broad, general explanation for crime patterns. A model is a simplified representation used to illustrate or predict outcomes.