Crime Analysis Data
1. Which of the following is a rectangular table of variables and units from which data have been collected that are organized into rows and columns?
Database
Data
Data matrix
Data file
2. A database is
A way in which data are measured.
A collection of data that have been organized for the purposes of retrieval, searching, and analysis through a computer.
The main repository of a police agency's data
A rectangular table (or grid) of information
3. Tabular data used in crime analysis that come from crime reports taken by police officers or other police personnel.
Crime incidents
Arrests
Calls for service
Accidents
4. Tabular data linked to the original crime report in which the unit of analysis is an arrest.
Crime incidents
Arrests
Calls for service
Accidents
5. Tabular data representing calls to the police department to which an officer responds.
Crime incidents
Arrests
Calls for service
Accidents
6. Two different types of calls for service are
Citizen and complaints
Citizen and officer generated
Accident and arrest
Self-initiated and crime calls
7. This database contains information about types of property that have been stolen, found, or used in the commission of crimes.
Property database
Vehicle database
Persons database
Field information database
Traffic database
8. This database contains information about vehicles stolen, recovered, or used in the commission of crimes.
Property database
Vehicle database
Persons database
Field information database
Traffic database
9. This database contains information about all individuals involved in criminal incidents, including witnesses, victims, investigative leads, suspects, and arrestees.
Property database
Vehicle database
Persons database
Field information database
Traffic database
10. This information is collected when an officer determines that a crime report is not necessary, but the agency would like to document the incident outside of the call-for-service record.
Property database
Vehicle database
Persons database
Field information database
Traffic database
11. This type of data is collected on vehicle stops and moving violation tickets.
Property database
Vehicle database
Persons database
Field information database
Traffic database
12. Primary data collection is
Data from crime reports, calls for service, and arrests
Collected by police officers through interviews with suspects in the field
Information collected specifically for problem analysis
All of the above
13. Which is a consideration for crime analysis data?
Crime analysts deal primarily with reported activity
Local and federal crime data standards vary
Calls for service data should not be used to study crime problems
All of the above
14. Which of the following is NOT a data integrity concern in crime analysis?
Data should accurately reflect the concepts they are intended to measure
The data obtained should be at least one week old to ensure data quality
Data should record the same measurements in repeated observations
Information and individuals represented within the data should be protected/confidential.
15. The following is a highly specialized system that uses telecommunications and geographic display to support police dispatch and response functions:
Computer hardware
Records management system
Computer-aided dispatch
Geographic data system
16. A data entry and storage system designed especially for police records.
Computer hardware
Records management system
Computer aided dispatch
Geographic data system
17. A system created to maintain and store geographic data.
Computer hardware
Records management system
Computer aided dispatch
Geographic data system
18. Which software's primary purpose is to allow users to enter, store, and modify data in and extract data from a database?
Database management software (DBMS)
Global positioning system (GPS)
Geographic information system (GIS)
Statistical software (SPSS)
19. Which software consists of crime and geographic data with specific location or area geographic identifiers and has the capacity to store, manipulate, analyze, display, and query geographic data for the purpose of generating maps?
Database management software (DBMS)
Global positioning system (GPS)
Geographic information system (GIS)
Statistical software (SPSS)
20. Which is a combination of hardware and software that uses satellite technology to provide the latitude and longitude of particular locations?
Database management software (DBMS)
Global positioning system (GPS)
Geographic information system (GIS)
Statistical software (SPSS)
True/False
21. Crime analysts most frequently use four types of secondary data: data on crime incidents, arrests, calls for service, and convictions. T F
22. A call for service is defined when an officer is dispatched to an incident or discovers and incident him- or herself. T F
23. Accident (or crash) data are typically recorded in standardized ways dictated by state laws. T F
24. The hardware used in crime analysis is very specialized and is not similar to that used in other disciplines. T F
25. Crime analysts obtain secondary data from three main kinds of data collection and storage systems: computer-aided dispatch systems, records management systems, and geographic data. T F