Mock Quiz Question

Beatrice is interested in the causes of juvenile violence. She interviews thirty youths of various races and genders who have been convicted of violent crimes. From her interviews she learns that most of the youths committed their crime while they were under the influence of at least one drug (including alcohol). She then states her theory as follows: Drug use increases the likelihood of violent crime in youths. Through which of the following did Beatrice arrive at her theory?

A. Deduction
B. Induction
C. Nomothetic
D. Ideographic

Answer: B (Induction). Because she started with an interest in juvenile violence and then followed it up with observations (through interviews) Beatrice induced her theory of drug use and juvenile violence from the data obtained in the interviews.

Why not A (Deduction)? If Beatrice had begun with the theory that drug use influences juvenile violence she would have developed her theory through the interviews. She then could test her theory with more observations.

Why not C (Nomothetic)? In a nomothetic explanation, she would have sought out two or three causal factors for juvenile violence. Her theory only states one.

Why not D (Ideographic)? Beatrice interviewed thirty youths to arrive at her conclusion. Ideographic explanations usually focus on one individual and determine all of the causal agents, home life, abuse, etc. for a particular situation.