Evaluation of theories in explaining criminality?

• A. Policy Development
• B. Informal Policy Making
• C. Strengths and Weaknesses
• D. Closed-Circuit Television

Answer: (C)

Evaluating theories in criminology is about weighing what each theory can explain well and where it falls short. When you assess theories, you look at their strengths—how well they account for different types of criminal behavior, how broad their applicability is, how consistent they are with existing data, and how testable their claims are. You also examine weaknesses—limits to scope, contexts where the theory doesn’t fit, gaps in evidence, potential biases, and whether the theory can be falsified. This process helps you compare theories on solid ground and decide which offers the strongest overall explanation or where further research is needed.

Policy development and informal policy making are about using knowledge to shape rules and practice, not about judging the theories themselves. Closed-circuit television is a policing tool and reflects an intervention, not the method of evaluating explanatory theories.