Question

question 2
1 try left
which scenario best illustrates evidence - based criminology in action?
a. a sociologist writes a paper that outlines his theory as to why children raised in middle - class families are more likely to commit violent crimes that their peers from wealthier backgrounds.
b. a researcher develops a research study to test her theory that college - educated offenders are more likely to commit property crimes than violent crimes.
c. a forensic pathologist presents her findings from a crime scene in a criminal trial to help prove the guilt of a defendant.
d. a researcher speculates that crime is a natural impulse and carries out an extensive literature review of the history of crime in the animal kingdom.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option based on the definition of evidence - based criminology, which emphasizes using research and evidence to inform criminological understanding or practice.

• Option A: A sociologist writing a paper outlining a theory without any research or evidence to support it is just presenting a theory, not evidence - based criminology.
• Option B: A researcher developing a research study to test a theory is in line with evidence - based criminology as it involves using research (which will generate evidence) to test a criminological theory about the types of crimes college - educated offenders commit.
• Option C: A forensic pathologist presenting findings from a crime scene is part of the criminal justice process (proving guilt in a trial) rather than criminology (the study of crime, its causes, etc.). Criminology is more about understanding crime patterns, causes, and prevention, not just the forensic aspects of a single case.
• Option D: Speculating that crime is a natural impulse and reviewing literature about crime in the animal kingdom is not relevant to evidence - based criminology as it is not focused on human crime in a way that uses research to inform criminological knowledge (and the animal kingdom comparison is not a valid approach for understanding human crime in a criminological context).

Answer:

B. A researcher develops a research study to test her theory that college - educated offenders are more likely to commit property crimes than violent crimes.