Criminology Case Study: Assessing Research Design and Validity

This case study analyzes a criminology research project investigating strategies to reduce shoplifting in retail stores. It assesses the study's alignment with Wallace's wheel of science, outlining the information components (theory, hypothesis, observation, empirical generalizations, and decision about the hypothesis) and methodological controls (logical deduction, research design, data analysis, inference, and logical induction). The study's research design, using symbols to represent data collection and hypothesis testing, is identified as an experiment. The research is characterized as nomothetic and prospective, with the primary goal of evaluating the effectiveness of loss prevention methods. Finally, the operational definition used to measure the dependent variable is assessed for face validity, considering the study's objectives, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques, concluding that the chosen approach effectively addresses the research question.

Assignment
Criminology
Case Study
1.0 Assess the extent to which study reflects the scientific process depicted by either
the left side or right side of Wallace’s wheel of Science or what the textbook calls
the “research circle” (5 Marks)
Wallace’s wheel is a research procedure that maps the processes involved. The Wallace
wheel comprises information component and methods adopted to move from one step
to another. The Wallace wheel is a cyclical process that starts from theory and return to
same. In the above study, the compliance with Wallace wheel has been analysed here-
in-below: (Soc. 315 Wallace Wheel )
A. Information components:
 Theory: Testing the effectiveness of two strategies in reducing shoplifting losses
in retail store and the impact of the strategy.
 Hypothesis: A relation has been devised on relation between the measures
adopted to reduce shoplifting and its possible outcome. Further, it also devises
how situation factor impact shoplifting.
 Observation: Observation has been made on 14 stores to analyse the hypothesis.
 Empirical Generalisations: A generalisation has been arrived to that protective
display fixture results and other mechanism are having an impact on reducing
loss on account of shoplifting.
 Decision about the Hypothesis: A final decision has been arrived at that display
fixture t statistic is statistically significant at 6% confidence interval. Further,
there has been significant reduction in losses around 21% on the basis of
observed findings. (Soc. 315 Wallace Wheel )
B. Methodological controls:
 Logical deduction: A logical deduction has been arrived at by using controlled
stores for a period of 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after experimentation.
 Research design: This include us market retail stores analysis, data collection
for 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after experimentation and using 3 strategies.
 Data analysis: t statistic and odds ratio has been computed;
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 Inference : A final decision has been arrived at that display fixture t statistic is
statistically significant at 6% confidence interval
 Logical induction: Credibility is developed by testing in real world
environment.
 Theory of construction: The theory was constructed to establish effectiveness
of two measures in reducing shoplifting losses. (Soc. 315 Wallace Wheel )
Hence, on the basis of above it may be deduced that the criteria for Wallace wheel is
satisfied.
2.0 Use the relevant symbol notation (e.g. X,0) to represent the research design
employed in this study. Describe what these symbols represent in this study (2
Marks)
Sample Collection(s): Data has been collected from US Markets and other merchants
nationwide.
Research (R): It involved collecting data 6 week prior to strategy application, 12 day
testing and 6 week post testing
Hypothesis testing,
M: Mean of sample observations.
SD: Standard deviation of observations from the mean.
Ho: the post test results are not different from pre-test period.
H1: the post test results are different from pre-test period
Alpha: to denote the level of significance of test.
OR : Odd ratio to measure effect size
Objective to reject null hypothesis. ( The Regents of the University of Michigan, 2018)
2b.0 Discuss whether the model you developed in Q2a is an experiment or quasi
experiment (2 Marks)
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For an experiment to be quasi experiment either of the following condition must be
satisfied:
 Control Group shall be missing or
 Participant’s assignment to condition is not random.
In the above study, a randomized control design with all the two treatments have been
tested in 14 stores. Further, two statistic test has been conducted to establish the
hypothesis and objective. Hence, it is an experiment as the conditions for quasi-
experiment is not satisfied. (Research Methods in Psychology)
3.0 Describe the study in terms of (2 Marks)
a. Nomothetic or ideological casual research
The research is nomothetic as the said study tries to establish the objective of
reducing shoplifting losses by using scientific methods like t statistic and OR. The
relevant quote
The research used t statistic test to analyse the difference between two periods i.e.
pre and post test and analyse the impact and extent of loss reduction. Further, the
odds ratio (OR) has been analysed to measure effect size. (louisenichols)
b. Prospective or retrospective research:
The study is prospective as it involved collection of data for the purpose of
establishment of objective by observing 14 stores across US.
The test involved use of randomized controlled trial design where all test were
carried out in fourteen stores (StatsDirect Limited,)
c. Its Primary research goal
The primary research goal is to establish the effectiveness of two methods in
preventing losses on account of shoplifting by using scientific method and
collecting data from real life on a product known as premium shaving blades.
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4.0 Assess the operational definition used to measure the dependent variable in terms
of its face validity (5 Marks)
The term face validity means the degree of explanation a test has been able to made on
the required subject or objective. In simple terms, the extent to which the author of the
study has been able to prove/ explain the effectiveness of its strategy in application by
using scientific methods
Objective
The primary research goal of the study is to establish the effectiveness of two methods
in preventing losses on account of shoplifting by using scientific method and collecting
data from real life on a product known as premium shaving blades.
Data Collection
The study involved collection of data from real life stores to test the effectiveness of
conclusion. The step involved collective of data from 14 stores across US. Further, the
collection involves data for 6 weeks prior to testing, 12 days of testing and 6 weeks data
post testing.
Analysis of Data
The data collected from the test has been analysed by computing mean and standard
deviation of observations across period. Further, a t test statistic has been computed to
test the significance of data and for ultimate conclusion that ePVM is statistically
significant at 6% and an effective measure to control loss. Further, OR computation has
been done to analyse the extent of impact.
Bibliography
The Regents of the University of Michigan. (2018). Experiments and Quasi-Experiments. Retrieved
june 27, 2018, from www.researchconnections.org:
https://www.researchconnections.org/childcare/datamethods/experimentsquasi.jsp
louisenichols. (n.d.). Nomothetic research vs. idiographic research . Retrieved june 27, 2018, from
https://louisenichols.wordpress.com: https://louisenichols.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/nomothetic-
research-vs-idiographic-research/
Research Methods in Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved june 27, 2018, from https://opentext.wsu.edu:
https://opentext.wsu.edu/carriecuttler/part/chapter-8-quasi-experimental-research/
Soc. 315 Wallace Wheel . (n.d.). Retrieved june 27, 2018, from courses.cs.ut.ee:
https://courses.cs.ut.ee/MTAT.03.243/2015_spring/uploads/Main/wallace-wheel.pdf
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StatsDirect Limited,. (n.d.). Prospective vs. Retrospective Studies. Retrieved june 27, 2018, from
www.statsdirect.com: https://www.statsdirect.com/help/basics/prospective.htm
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