A concept more applicable to the hard sciences. Doesthe appearance of X cause

effect Y? In a perfectrelationship, the appearance of X would always cause the effect Y. each 

and every time the relationship isseen.

Thisisthe most important factor in evaluating a theory, and meansthat the

theory has been supported by research evidence.

A beliefsystem and a set of core values or philosophy. In a pure sense, an ideology 

states or explains how thingsshould be, and a theory explains how things actually are.

A theory needsto be presented in a logical manner and to have

clearly stated propositionsthat agree with or do not contradict one another. Restated, doesthe

theory make logical and consistentsense?

Macro theories of criminal behavior explain the “big picture” of crime—crime across

the world or across a society. They attempt to answer why there are variationsin group rates of

crime. Other authors have used the terms “epidemiology” orsocialstructural theories.

Micro theories of criminal behaviorfocus on a small group of offenders or on an 

individual crime. They attempt to answer why some individuals are more likely than othersto

commit crime. Other authors have used the terms “individual conduct” or processual theories.

Thisrefersto how many propositions,steps, orstatements are involved. How

simple isthe theory?

A concept more applicable to the socialsciences. X is more orless

likely to cause effect Y. Restated, X tendsto cause Y.

The view that human behavior is not wholly caused , determined, or

predictable by any set of biological, psychological, orsociologicalforces but that these interact3

with exercise of choice and will by individuals. Therefore, explaining or predicting human 

behavior is difficult.

Circular reasoning. If a theory states that greed causes people to commit crime, and 

then says we know Jon is greedy because he committed a crime, it becomes impossible to subject

the theory to the scientific process. In this case, you would find that greed has been defined as

someone who commits criminal acts. The circle ofthe reasoning neverstops.

To be valid and ultimately useful, a theory must be able to be subjected to scientific

research. Theories may be untestable if they are tautological, propose causes that are not

measurable, or are so open-ended that empiricalfindings can always be re-interpreted to support

the theory.

Theoriesin this category attempt to explain why 

an individual commits criminal or delinquent acts.

Theoriesin this category attempt to explain how laws

are made, and how the criminal justice system operates as a whole.

Thisrefersto the real world applicationsthat the theory proposes orsuggests, and 

the ability to implement those applications.

1. Theories are useful toolsthat help usto understand and explain the world around us. In

criminology, they help usto understand the workings of the criminal justice system and the actors

in the system.

2. Theoriessuggest the way things are, not the way things ought to be. They are not inherently 

good or bad; however, they can be used for good or bad purposes.

3. A theory can try to explain crime for a large social unit or area (macro), or it can attempt to 

explain crime at the individual orsmaller unit level (micro).

4. Because we are dealing with human behavior, the socialsciences will never be like the hard 

sciences. In the hard sciences, the theory ofrelativity will not change. In the socialsciences,

however, we deal with probabilities. The socialscientist willsay thingssuch as, “A severely 

neglected child will probably commit, or tend to commit, delinquent acts.”

5. To be used for maximum effectiveness, theories must make sense (logical consistency),