Defining Criminology: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Question 1

Positivist criminology is known for its scientific approach. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of this perspective?

Accepted Answer

Emphasis on social environment

Answer

Focus on biological and psychological factors

Answer

Reliance on empirical data

Question 2

Which perspective in criminology is NOT considered a major one?

Accepted Answer

Cybercriminological

Answer

Biological

Answer

Psychological

Answer

Sociological

Question 3

What is the main focus of labelling theory in criminology?

Accepted Answer

The social impact of defining certain behaviours as criminal

Answer

The root causes of crime

Answer

The punishment of criminals

Answer

The role of the media in shaping perceptions of crime

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of a criminological research design?

Accepted Answer

To test hypotheses and evaluate theories

Answer

To gather information about crime and criminals

Answer

To discover the root causes of crime

Answer

To develop practical strategies for crime prevention

Question 5

What is the overarching goal of criminology?

Accepted Answer

To understand the causes and patterns of crime and criminal behaviour

Answer

To reduce crime and enhance public safety

Answer

To develop effective crime prevention and control strategies

Answer

To provide treatment and rehabilitation for offenders

Question 6

Which concept is NOT central to the field of criminology?

Accepted Answer

Physical health

Answer

Crime

Answer

Criminal behavior

Answer

Social control

Question 7

Which criminological perspective emphasizes the influence of social structures on crime?

Accepted Answer

Sociological

Answer

Positivist

Answer

Biological

Answer

Psychological

Question 8

What is the primary distinction between crime and deviance?

Accepted Answer

Criminal behavior is defined as illegal by law, while deviant behavior is not.

Answer

Deviant behavior is defined as illegal by law, while criminal behavior is not.

Answer

Criminal behavior is inherently more serious than deviant behavior.

Answer

Deviant behavior is inherently more serious than criminal behavior.

Question 9

Which of the following is a central concept in labeling theory?

Accepted Answer

Social construction of deviance

Answer

Differential association

Answer

Rational choice

Answer

Anomie

Question 10

What is the primary focus of critical criminology?

Accepted Answer

Power and inequality in society

Answer

Biological factors in criminal behavior

Answer

Psychological factors in criminal behavior

Answer

Social learning of criminal behavior

Question 11

What key distinction separates positivist criminology from classical criminology?

Accepted Answer

Belief in external factors shaping criminal behavior

Answer

Focus on personal choice and accountability for criminal acts

Answer

Recognition of societal disparities as crime drivers

Answer

View of crime as a learned behavior

Question 12

How do intersecting identities, such as race, class, and gender, affect individuals' experiences within the criminal justice system?

Accepted Answer

Intersecting identities can influence the impact of criminal justice policies and practices on individuals.

Answer

Intersecting identities have no impact on experiences within the criminal justice system.

Answer

Intersecting identities only influence experiences within the criminal justice system for marginalized groups.

Answer

Intersecting identities are only relevant in the context of violent crimes.

Question 13

Which concept is essential to the study of criminology?

Accepted Answer

Social control

Answer

Criminal justice

Answer

Equality

Answer

Punitive measures

Question 14

Who is widely recognized as the 'father of criminology'?

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria

Answer

Emile Durkheim

Answer

C. Wright Mills

Answer

Michel Foucault

Question 15

What is the primary focus of positivist criminology?

Accepted Answer

The role of biological and psychological factors in crime causation

Answer

The influence of social and economic conditions on crime

Answer

The impact of labelling and stereotyping on criminal behavior

Answer

The effectiveness of crime prevention measures

Question 16

Which of the following is a central concept in critical criminology?

Accepted Answer

Social control

Answer

Rational choice theory

Answer

Situational crime prevention

Answer

Rehabilitation

Question 17

What is the primary purpose of the British Crime Survey?

Accepted Answer

To measure the prevalence and patterns of crime in the UK

Answer

To evaluate the effectiveness of specific crime prevention initiatives

Answer

To collect data on the experiences and characteristics of crime victims

Answer

To identify high-risk individuals and target them for intervention

Question 18

What is the fundamental distinction between crime and deviance?

Accepted Answer

Crimes are acts that violate legal norms, while deviances violate social norms.

Answer

Deviancies are acts that are harmful to society, while crimes are not.

Answer

Crimes are always punished, while deviances are not.

Answer

There is no meaningful distinction between crimes and deviances.

Question 19

How has labeling theory been used to explain the disproportionate arrest rates of minority groups for drug offenses?

Accepted Answer

Explaining the over-representation of minority groups among those arrested for drug offenses

Answer

Analyzing the causes of corporate fraud and embezzlement

Answer

Predicting the likelihood of recidivism among released prisoners

Answer

Justifying the use of capital punishment as a deterrent against violent crime

Question 20

Which characteristic is NOT essential to the definition of criminology?

Accepted Answer

Exclusive emphasis on legal responses

Answer

Scientific examination of crime

Answer

Focus on social factors

Answer

Interdisciplinary approach

Question 21

Which criminological perspective emphasizes biological and psychological factors contributing to criminal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Biological Positivism

Answer

Social Positivism

Answer

Critical Criminology

Answer

Conflict Theory

Question 22

According to labelling theory, individuals become criminals when:

Accepted Answer

They are labelled as criminals by society

Answer

They commit a crime

Answer

They are punished for a crime

Answer

Their actions meet the legal definition of a crime

Question 23

Which concept is central to critical criminology?

Accepted Answer

Social inequality

Answer

Social control

Answer

Conflict resolution

Answer

Biological determinism

Question 24

What term describes the process by which criminal justice officials perceive and react to certain behaviors as criminal?

Accepted Answer

Discretion

Answer

Socialisation

Answer

Labelling

Answer

Definition

Question 25

What is the primary purpose of a criminological meta-analysis?

Accepted Answer

To combine findings from multiple studies

Answer

To replicate a single study's results

Answer

To generate a new theory

Answer

To test a particular hypothesis

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a key ethical consideration in criminological research?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding plagiarism

Answer

Protecting participant confidentiality

Answer

Minimising harm to participants

Answer

Obtaining informed consent

Question 27

What is the main objective of the British Crime Survey?

Accepted Answer

To gauge the extent of unreported crime

Answer

To collect official crime statistics

Answer

To determine the causes of crime

Answer

To assess the effectiveness of crime prevention measures

Question 28

What are the primary purposes of criminological research?

Accepted Answer

To enhance our understanding of the factors that contribute to crime

Accepted Answer

To inform the development of effective crime prevention and control policies

Answer

To provide entertainment and sensationalized accounts of crime

Question 29

How does feminist criminology challenge conventional views of crime and criminal behavior?

Accepted Answer

It highlights the experiences of female offenders and challenges the assumption that crime is primarily a male issue.

Answer

It emphasizes the role of biology in shaping criminal behavior.

Answer

It argues that all crime is driven by economic factors.

Answer

It advocates for harsher punishments for female offenders.

Question 30

Which of the following is a key perspective in criminology that focuses on the role of social factors in criminal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Sociological

Answer

Biological

Answer

Psychological

Answer

Political

Question 31

The systematic study of the causes and consequences of criminal behavior is known as:

Accepted Answer

Criminology

Answer

Sociology

Answer

Psychology

Answer

Law

Question 32

Criminology emerged as a distinct academic discipline in the:

Accepted Answer

19th century

Answer

18th century

Answer

20th century

Answer

17th century

Question 33

According to labeling theory, individuals who are labeled as 'deviant' are more likely to engage in:

Accepted Answer

Secondary deviance

Answer

Primary deviance

Answer

Tertiary deviance

Answer

Quaternary deviance

Question 34

Conflict theory suggests that crime is primarily a result of social inequality and conflict between different groups in society:

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 35

Which of the following is a fundamental principle of criminology?

Accepted Answer

Crime is a complex phenomenon with multiple causes.

Answer

Crime is primarily a result of economic inequality.

Answer

Crime is an inevitable aspect of human nature.

Answer

Crime is solely caused by individual moral failings.

Question 36

Who is widely regarded as the 'father of modern criminology'?

Accepted Answer

Cesare Lombroso

Answer

Karl Marx

Answer

Emile Durkheim

Answer

Sigmund Freud

Question 37

Which criminological perspective emphasizes the role of social structures and inequality in shaping crime?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory

Answer

Psychological theory

Answer

Biological theory

Answer

Environmental theory

Question 38

What is the primary goal of positivist criminology?

Accepted Answer

To identify the causes of crime through scientific research.

Answer

To understand the subjective experiences of criminals.

Answer

To develop effective crime prevention strategies.

Question 39

Which of the following is a key ethical consideration in conducting criminological research?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the confidentiality of participant information.

Answer

Securing funding for research projects.

Answer

Publishing research findings as soon as possible.

Answer

Prioritizing the researcher's personal interests.

Question 40

Which of the following is a primary function of criminological theory?

Accepted Answer

To develop explanations for the causes and patterns of crime.

Answer

To prescribe specific policy solutions.

Answer

To enforce criminal laws.

Answer

To provide therapeutic interventions for offenders.

Question 41

What is the role of law enforcement agencies in criminological research?

Accepted Answer

To provide data on crime patterns and victimization.

Answer

To conduct experimental studies on crime causation.

Answer

To provide legal representation for defendants.

Answer

To develop rehabilitation programs for offenders.

Question 42

What is a major limitation of official crime statistics?

Accepted Answer

They only include crimes that are reported to and recorded by the police.

Answer

They provide detailed information about the characteristics of victims.

Answer

They are always accurate and reliable.

Question 43

What is the fundamental difference between criminology and criminal justice?

Accepted Answer

Criminology studies the causes and consequences of crime, while criminal justice focuses on the response to crime through law enforcement, courts, and corrections.

Answer

Criminology is an academic discipline, while criminal justice is a practical field.

Answer

Criminology focuses on individuals, while criminal justice focuses on institutions.