ABSTRACT
Empirical knowledge is derived from natural phenomena, their properties, and relations, as verifiable by observation or experience (Bryant, 1985; Gartrell & Gartrell, 1996; Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1987; Ritzer, 2007). Though observation and experience seemingly affirm empirical knowledge, the majority view of what qualifies as scientific, especially in criminology, is grounded in the “verifiable by observation” element that manifests as validation through observation of statistical significance. Hypothetic–deductive driven variable analytic inquiry processes so dominate the study of crime and justice that relatively few criminologists study crime and criminals directly or “in the wild” anymore (Wright & Bennett, 1990).
