Final answer:
Criminologists computing criminal statistics use quantitative measurements to objectively analyze crime rates, types, and patterns. This methodology allows for statistical analysis and better understanding of societal behaviours. Both quantitative discrete and quantitative continuous data types are relevant to such studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Criminologists interested in computing criminal statistics focus on creating quantitative measurements of criminal behavior. Quantitative data greatly aids in understanding societal trends and behaviors in a clear, numerical way. When considering criminal statistics, numbers offer a direct method to gauge criminal activities, frequencies, and patterns. Such data could include crime rates, types of crimes committed, recidivism rates, and demographic information of offenders. These measurements are objective and can lead to statistically significant findings.
For instance, quantitative sociologists apply statistical methods such as surveys with large numbers of participants to interpret social phenomena. Data like the number of times per week a crime occurs would be quantitative discrete data, and the duration of a specific criminal activity would be considered quantitative continuous data since it measures the amount of time, which can be infinitely divided. Quantitative sociology aims to identify and analyze patterns within society by collecting and examining numerical data.