The discipline of criminology requires a detailed study of crime and criminals. Criminologists seek to answer the "why" question. Why would someone do something so horrible? Criminological theories try to answer this question. As you attempt to answer the "why" question, you will consider theory development.
Are the reasons someone commits a burglary the same as the reasons someone commits murder? In this assignment, you will explore various categories of crime. Ask yourself what it takes to study that particular behavior, describe those variables, and explain how you will measure the variables.
Consider how theories are developed. Select a category of crime (for example, burglary or murder) and then describe how you will study this behavior.
Describe the variables and research design you will use to examine these categories of crime.