NCJ Number
240215
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2012 Pages: 469-490
Date Published
August 2012
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article discusses group-based analysis of developmental trajectories in criminology and criminal justice research.
Abstract
Group-based analysis of developmental trajectories has been commonly used to study heterogeneity in criminal offending over the life course. While there have been several critiques of this method, the authors believe that it is useful in testing hypotheses from theory about the existence of groups and the characteristics and attributes of groups. The authors present an overview of these issues and close with two points. First, since criminology owes much to description, the group-based method offers one method that permits visualization of data and connection of what one sees to the data. Second, although the group-based model is a useful descriptive tool, it is not a mere descriptive tool, as it can be used to test empirical predictions from theory, including the predictions of non-taxonomic criminological theories, as well as other fundamental criminological/criminal justice questions. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.