Abstract
In recent years there has been an attempt to develop a single, general theory of state crime. The procedure used for this
purpose has involved ad hoc theorizing and thick descriptions based on qualitative data assessments from a relatively small
number of cases. This creates a “theory” that describes all known information and is modified with the discovery of each new
piece of information. Using this procedure, the theory proposes no hypotheses for testing, and cannot be falsified. Moreover,
the theory is only based on “positive” cases or cases where state crimes are the given outcome (i.e., state crimes never fail
to occur). The non-parsimonious nature of the theory that has resulted from these procedures cannot be empirically tested.
For state crime theory to advance, parsimonious, empirically testable models with identifiable, measurable concepts must be
pursued.
purpose has involved ad hoc theorizing and thick descriptions based on qualitative data assessments from a relatively small
number of cases. This creates a “theory” that describes all known information and is modified with the discovery of each new
piece of information. Using this procedure, the theory proposes no hypotheses for testing, and cannot be falsified. Moreover,
the theory is only based on “positive” cases or cases where state crimes are the given outcome (i.e., state crimes never fail
to occur). The non-parsimonious nature of the theory that has resulted from these procedures cannot be empirically tested.
For state crime theory to advance, parsimonious, empirically testable models with identifiable, measurable concepts must be
pursued.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-20
- DOI 10.1007/s12103-012-9157-3
- Authors
- Michael J. Lynch, Department of Criminology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620-8100, USA
- Michael A. Long, Department of Sociology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Paul B. Stretesky, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado—Denver, Campus Box 142 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80217-3364, USA
- Journal American Journal of Criminal Justice
- Online ISSN 1936-1351
- Print ISSN 1066-2316