Operationalizing Delinquency: An Analysis of the Most Common Methodologies Used for Criminological Theory Testing

• In Event: Testing Key Theories and Concepts: New Strategies and Long-Standing Challenges

Abstract

The current study is a descriptive analysis of methodologies for the most frequent and accepted empirical research on criminological theory. The current data is based on a set of 197 studies selected based on strict criteria (Sorenson, 2009; Spano & Freilich, 2009) from the 250 empirical studies cited in the most common doctorate level textbooks in the field. The aim of the study is to provide a better understanding of the most common methodologies used for criminological theory testing. The research records the ways in which researchers choose to operationalize delinquency as a dependent variable and the prevalence of each type of operationalization, summarizes what the most common control variables are, and analyzes sampling methods and other aspects of research methodology.

Authors

• Daniel O'Brien, University of New Haven

• Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo, University of New Haven

• Richard Spano, University of New Haven