Those interested in the study of criminology and criminal justice have at their disposal a wide range of research methods. The particular research method to use is entirely contingent upon the question being studied. Research questions typically fall into four categories of: (1) descriptive, (2) exploratory, (3) explanatory, and (4) evaluative (Schutt). Descriptive research attempts to define and describe the social phenomena under investigation. Exploratory research seeks to identify the underlying meaning behind actions and individual behavior. Explanatory research seeks to identify the cause(s) and effect(s) of social phenomena. Evaluation research seeks to determine the effects of an intervention on individual behavior. These four areas of research are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are designed to be used interactively in order to gain a deeper understanding of the question under investigation. http://www.encyclopedia.com/law/legal-and-political-magazines/criminology-and-criminal-justice-research-methods HIERARCHY RULE There is a significance to the order in which the Part I offenses are presented, with criminal homicide being the highest in the hierarchy and arson being the lowest. The Part I of
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