A. A large number of non-violent offenders were released from prison early as a means of protecting them from COVID. How could you use this social situation to test whether long sentences effectively deter crime? In your answer, please include what kind of research methodology you propose employing and the strengths and weaknesses of your research design for answering the question.

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology
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**Question:**

A large number of non-violent offenders were released from prison early as a means of protecting them from COVID. How could you use this social situation to test whether long sentences effectively deter crime? In your answer, please include what kind of research methodology you propose employing and the strengths and weaknesses of your research design for answering the question.

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**Explanation:**

This question prompts an examination of whether the early release of non-violent offenders due to COVID-19 can serve as a natural experiment to evaluate the deterrent effect of long prison sentences on crime rates. The response should outline a suitable research methodology, which might include a comparative analysis of crime rates before and after the early release, potentially employing statistical methods like regression analysis. Consideration should be given to the strengths, such as real-world applicability, and weaknesses, such as the inability to control for all external variables, of the proposed research design.
Transcribed Image Text:**Question:** A large number of non-violent offenders were released from prison early as a means of protecting them from COVID. How could you use this social situation to test whether long sentences effectively deter crime? In your answer, please include what kind of research methodology you propose employing and the strengths and weaknesses of your research design for answering the question. --- **Explanation:** This question prompts an examination of whether the early release of non-violent offenders due to COVID-19 can serve as a natural experiment to evaluate the deterrent effect of long prison sentences on crime rates. The response should outline a suitable research methodology, which might include a comparative analysis of crime rates before and after the early release, potentially employing statistical methods like regression analysis. Consideration should be given to the strengths, such as real-world applicability, and weaknesses, such as the inability to control for all external variables, of the proposed research design.
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