Discuss the research of Sherman and Berk (1984) on the effect of arrest on domestic abuse. What was their research hypothesis? What were their independent and dependent variables? Describe how their hypothesis was designed to test deterrence theory and labeling theory. For which theory did their hypothesis provide support? How did later studies improve on this initial research?
What will be an ideal response?
Sherman and Berk (1984) evaluated the effectiveness of various police responses to domestic violence calls in Minneapolis, MN, by asking 51 officers to do one of the three approaches: (1) send the abuser away for 8 hr; (2) advise and mediate; and (3) make an arrest; they found that arrest was the most effective police response; the independent variable was the type of approach, whereas the dependent variable was whether or not the perpetrator reoffended; deterrence theory--assumes the people's criminal behavior is shaped by cost–benefit calculations; labeling theory--uses a symbolic interactionist approach to explain deviance as an offender's reaction to the application of rules and sanctions; their hypothesis provided support for deterrence theory; Pate and Hamilton (1992).
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Which of these is the most significant threat to China's one-party system?
a. the increased activism of rural peasants in local governance b. the rise of small third parties led by members of China's elite social classes c. the rapid economic growth that is creating a middle class critical of corruption d. the growing presence of entrepreneurs in the leadership structure of the communist party