Read Me First (CJ Specific)



Week One Listen To Me First

Speakers: Narrator, SME

Narrator: Welcome to the Week One podcast for CJA/335, Research Statistics. Each week, we’ll talk with a Subject Matter Expert who will provide a brief overview of the weekly objectives and how you can apply them in criminal justice and security. This week, we’ll discuss statistics and the terminology used to explain statistics.

So how are statistics used in criminal justice?

SME: Well, statistics are used in a variety of contexts and settings in criminal justice. Across the board, all agencies and functions utilize statistics to get a barometer on the criminal environment, whether in terms of crime rates, arrest rates, prosecution, sentencing, or recidivism rates. In addition, agencies use statistics as a method for accountability. In law enforcement, we utilize statistics to measure and track progress in our efforts and operations. Knowing whether or not extra patrols are helping to decrease crime in specific areas is strictly a statistical analysis of crime before, during, and after an operation. Analysts are crucial in providing this necessary information and have always been an integral component of law enforcement agencies as a result.

Narrator: Can you explain the four levels of measurement?

SME: First, understanding your data and how you can measure it is what leads to this discussion. The four levels are nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. One way to segment these measurements is to align nominal and ordinal levels with qualitative data and to align interval and ratio levels with quantitative data. Nominal data is presented by name value alone, often placed in categories. Ordinal refers to data that can be put in some value or rank order. This would be values like satisfied, very satisfied, no opinion, and so on. Interval refers to data that can be put in some numeric order because the values lend themselves to such placement. This could be like temperatures using the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales, where the interval of 1 degree will always have the same meaning. Ratio refers to data that has the qualities of interval but, in addition, has an absolute zero point. A meaningful zero point represents the beginning.

Narrator: Can you describe some key concepts specific to statistics that students should know?

SME: This week, students must know about the concepts of quantitative v. qualitative data, measures of central tendency, and sample v. population. These are pretty basic statistics concepts that have wide applicability regardless of the area of study. Knowing the two main classifications of data, quantitative v. qualitative, is foundational in understanding levels of measurement, as discussed earlier. Understanding the three measures of central tendency—mean, mode, and median—is crucial to the understanding of other statistical concepts, such as standard deviation, range, distribution, skew, and others. Lastly, knowing that you take a sample of a population and their definitions helps with understanding probability and statistics in research, which are very important.

Narrator: So what key point should students focus on this week?

SME: Students should understand the significance of statistics in everyday life, whether in personal finances, enthusiasm for sports reporting, weather forecasts, the drive to work, and so on. Statistics has broad applicability and exists in our everyday life, so don't be scared of it. You already live it.

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