The chapter does a good job of explaining the purpose behind research and how the methods used to accumulate the data are important to the final product.
Chapter Two
In the second chapter it is explained how the individual techniques described in Chapter One are incorporated in order to produce the final product. The use and design of the different types of graphs is clearly set forth and the purposes behind the use of tables and graphs are defined. The method of interpreting graphs and their related tables is also explained.
Frequency Distribution
The U.S. Department of Justice's review of the operations of Local Police Departments, 2007 was examined for purposes of understanding the practical use of frequency distributions. A number of tables were examined with one specific one being chosen for review. Table 5 on page 11 compares the educational levels of hired officers based on the population in which they serve. Unlike most of the examples contained in the text, the tables in the Department of Justice article put all values in terms of percentages and use at least two variables. In Table 5 the two variables are education level and population size. The table, in question, reveals what police departments serving cities of various sizes require in the way...
The table reveals that the larger the city's population the higher the minimum educational requirements. Surprisingly, the table clearly exposes the fact that a great number of jurisdictions still do not require even a high school diploma and that very few demand a college degree.
Because the format used by the Department of Justice study usually involved at least two variables it was more difficult to draw clear conclusions. In our reading assignments and the accompanying powerpoint presentations the examples were demonstrated using only one variable. This allowed one to see a direction correlation between any changes in the variable and the results. When an additional variable is added, it requires that one examine the effect of the variables more closely. For example, in Table 5 education and population are both variables and making a one-on-one correlation is not as easy. Both variables must be considered in forming any conclusions.The lack of specific frequencies and the use of percentages confused the issue as well but understandable given the large numbers used by the study.
statistics in Criminal Justice
The paper below is an example from which certain passages, ideas, and/or information
