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Article 1: Carriaga, M. L., & Worrall, J. L. (2015). Police levels and crime: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, 88(4), 315–333.

Abstract: Researchers have long examined the relationship between police levels (officers or spending per capita) and crime, yet consistent findings remain elusive due to the variety of methodological approaches employed. We present the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished longitudinal macro-level police levels crime research in order to ascertain the empirical status of this relationship. Twenty-four studies met the criteria for systematic review; 12 met the criteria for meta-analysis. Findings from a vote-counting procedure reveal mixed evidence of policing’s effect on crime; however, results from the meta-analysis suggest there is a small, inverse association between police levels and crime at the macro-level.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. What was the purpose of this article?
2. What confidence level did the authors use in their analyses?
3. Interpret the upper and lower confidence levels for one of the studies in their meta-analysis.
    

Article 2: Pratt, T. C., Cullen, F. T., Blevins, K. R., Daigle, L., & Unnever, J. D. (2002). The relationship of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to crime and delinquency: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 4(4), 344–360.

Abstract: In recent years, criminologists have begun to focus more closely on how certain biosocial and/or neuropsychological factors may influence criminal and delinquent behavior. One factor that is emerging as a potentially important correlate of such behavior is attention deficit—often combined with hyperactivity—disorder (ADD and/or ADHD). The results of the growing body of empirical literature assessing this link are, however, inconsistent. The present study subjects this body of research to a meta-analysis—or, quantitative synthesis—to establish both the overall effect of ADHD on crime and delinquency and the degree to which this relationship is conditioned by methodological factors across empirical studies. The analyses reveal a fairly strong association between measures of ADHD and criminal and delinquent behavior. Nevertheless, these effects are not invariant across certain salient methodological characteristics. The implications for criminological theory and correctional policy are discussed.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. What is the “file-drawer problem” and how does it affect criminological research?
2. What was the sample in this study?
3. What was a limitation of the sample used?