Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology Essay (Critical Writing)

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Research and statistics are essential components of the study of criminal justice and criminology. In Chapter Four, Gau (2018) defines the concept of the measures of central tendency and data distribution shapes. The author’s primary argument refers to the importance of averages and data distribution types for criminology researchers and practitioners (Gau, 2018). Indeed, the predictive capability of the measures of central tendency allows for drawing general conclusions and providing understanding about groups of objects or people based on data.

Another point made in the chapter refers to the role of data distribution shapes. The distribution’s nature is critical to evaluate for identifying other descriptive statistics. Furthermore, Gau (2018) explores such terms as the mode, the median, and the mean. In particular, the author highlights the mode’s usefulness for categorical data in contrast to continuous data. According to Gau (2018), the median is more informative, especially for continuous variables, compared to ordinal variables. In turn, another argument emphasizes that the mean can only be calculated with interval or ratio data and is not applicable to categorical variables (Gau, 2018). Understanding the appropriateness of each measure of central tendency is essential since it allows the researcher to apply the relevant tool to analyze the data set. The author identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each measure, which is vital for choosing the right approach for certain types of data.

To conclude, the information provided in the chapter is essential for understanding the measures of central tendency. The evaluation of the middle points in sets of data provides a general basis for assumptions and conclusions, crucial in criminal justice and criminology studies. For instance, statistical procedures can be utilized in observational studies and experiments. In these research types, statistical analysis is performed to analyze data, support a hypothesis, and draw conclusions.

Reference

Gau, J. M. (2018). Statistics for criminology and criminal justice (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, October 28). Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology. https://ivypanda.com/essays/statistics-in-criminal-justice-and-criminology/

Work Cited

"Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology." IvyPanda, 28 Oct. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/statistics-in-criminal-justice-and-criminology/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology'. 28 October.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology." October 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/statistics-in-criminal-justice-and-criminology/.

1. IvyPanda. "Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology." October 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/statistics-in-criminal-justice-and-criminology/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology." October 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/statistics-in-criminal-justice-and-criminology/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1