The Epistemology Of The Decision Making Process Of Burglars

The aim of this essay is to attempt to identify the epistemology implicated in the research conducted by Emmeline Taylor about the decision making process of burglars. Essay begins with a concise definition of Criminology and a brief outline of ‘Rational Choice Theory’ which can be utilised to understand the decision making process of offenders and to provide a background for the notion of the rationality among burglars whilst acting criminal behaviour. Then it will continue with the explanation of the some key notions underpinning the theoretical assumptions of a study to be presented. It will conclude with the final consideration of epistemological stance of the study. Coined as a term by an Italian criminologist Raffaele Garofalo in 1885, Criminology, studies the extent, cause and nature of crime and criminal behaviour in a systematic way (Lanier and Henry, 2004). In a widest sense, Criminological approach comprises â€Å"the study of various forms of crime, offenders, formulation of laws, various processes of law enforcement and criminal justice, policy and practice in punishment, attempts to control, reduce or prevent crime, investigation of the victims of crime† (Coleman and Norris, 2000, pp. 13). The decision making process of the offenders and the factors that affect their decisions gain popularity among researchers. However, as Wright and Bennet (1990) argued, despite the importance of the offenders’ perspective in committing crime, little attention has paid by the