Chapter 11: Police and the Media

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. In the chapter, the authors describe the relationship between the police and media as ______.

A. distinct, but harmonious

B. fraught, but mutually beneficial

C. cooperative and chaotic

D. intertwined and positive

Learning Objective: 11-1: Explain the symbiotic relationship of media and police.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Police and Media: A Symbiotic Relationship

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. In the context of the chapter, who is most equipped to push a sensational narrative, such as a police shooting, to the forefront of the public’s attention?

A. police officers and unions

B. journalists and reporters

C. vloggers and activists

D. educators and social workers

Learning Objective: 11-1: Explain the symbiotic relationship of media and police.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Police and Media: A Symbiotic Relationship

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Which of the following statements best explains the relationship between the media and the police?

A. Both like each other, but don’t need each other.

B. Both like each other, and both need each other.

C. Neither like each other, and neither need each other.

D. Neither like each other, but both need each other.

Learning Objective: 11-1: Explain the symbiotic relationship of media and police.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Police and Media: A Symbiotic Relationship

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. The public perception of law enforcement is mostly derived from which of the following?

A. direct knowledge

B. what the public read, hear, and see in the media

C. experiences of family and friends

D. political culture

Learning Objective: 11-2: Explain media impact on public perceptions of crime and policing.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Impact of the Media

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. Which theory argues that people develop knowledge, perceptions, and beliefs of reality through interaction and that the media plays a large role in facilitating those interactions?

A. biological determinism

B. structural functionalism

C. symbolic interactionism

D. social constructionism

Learning Objective: 11-2: Explain media impact on public perceptions of crime and policing.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Social Construction Versus Direct Experience

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. In the chapter, social construction is compared to ______.

A. functionalism

B. biological determinism

C. direct experience

D. symbolic interactionism

Learning Objective: 11-2: Explain media impact on public perceptions of crime and policing.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Social Construction Versus Direct Experience

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Which of the following is considered to be the most featured component of the justice system in entertainment media?

A. law enforcement

B. corrections

C. crime legislation

D. courts

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Entertainment Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. According to the authors, most people have direct experience or contact with police in which setting?

A. after committing a traffic violation

B. in the community

C. during a criminal investigation

D. in courtroom

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Entertainment Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Most findings on the depictions of police and police work find that prime-time portrayals are most often about ______.

A. community relations

B. crime solving

C. punishment

D. crime policy

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Entertainment Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. Which of the following best describes the prime-time portrayals of police and police work in the media?

A. balanced

B. full of action

C. under dramatized

D. overwhelmingly anti-police

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Entertainment Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. According to the text, the vast majority of depictions show the police as ______.

A. law breakers and instigators

B. prejudiced and violent

C. courteous and helpful

D. crime fighters and problem solvers

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Entertainment Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Which of the following statements pertaining to the news media is true?

A. The lines between news and entertainment are clear and distinct.

B. Most people do not rely on the news for information about crime.

C. The media is known to take responsibility for “body bag” journalism.

D. Most people assume that what they see is what is happening in the world.

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: News Media

Difficulty Level: Hard

13. Which of the following statements pertaining to investigative journalism is true? Investigative journalists ______.

A. see themselves as patrol officers

B. are beholden to the police and not a media organization

C. believe that the public has a right to know

D. only report positive stories

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Investigative Reporting

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Which type of reporter goes deeper, with the goal of unearthing evidence, usually of wrongdoing?

A. columnist

B. media correspondent

C. beat

D. investigative

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Investigative Reporting

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Investigative reporters view themselves as ______.

A. community liaisons

B. administrators

C. detectives

D. patrol officers

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Investigative Reporting

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. According to the authors, the link between media content and fear of crime is ______ dimensional.

A. one

B. two

C. three

D. multi

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Investigative Reporting

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. The purpose of broadcasting real crime and crime statistics in the news is to ______.

A. inform the public

B. establish legitimacy

C. solve crimes

D. entertain and gain viewership

Learning Objective: 11-4: Explain impact of media on fear of crime.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Fear of Crime

Difficulty Level: Medium

18. Police administrators employ public information officers, who deal directly with reporters and the public in order to maintain ______.

A. organizational authority

B. police subculture

C. organizational legitimacy

D. police discretion

Learning Objective: 11-4: Explain impact of media on fear of crime.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Controlling Media Information

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. Which type of media creates a venue for innovative crime ideation and methodology?

A. print media

B. social media

C. entertainment media

D. news media

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Social Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. According to the authors, much of what makes the news comes from ______.

A. news reporters through television

B. the public through social media

C. broadcasters through radio

D. actors through film

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Social Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. The example of the police officer in New York buying socks for a man experiencing homelessness illustrates which of the following?

A. pro-social relationships between the public and police

B. misperceptions of what police do or can do

C. sensationalization of police actions

D. promulgated and unbalanced focus on violent or bizarre crime

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: News Media and Social Media Merge

Difficulty Level: Hard

22. Which of the following best explains the unrealistic expectations juries have about forensic evidence available in trials?

A. CSI effect

B. self-fulfilling prophecy

C. cultivation theory

D. Law and Order effect

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Investigation of Social Media Crimes

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Which of the following is an example of a crime that can be committed by using social media?

A. arson

B. murder

C. fraud

D. assault

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Investigation of Social Media Crimes

Difficulty Level: Hard

24. Which constitutionally protected form of expression can be enhanced by social media?

A. protesting

B. blocking traffic

C. damaging property

D. looting

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Public Use of Social Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. Present-day mainstream media coverage focuses on the positive strides that police have made rather than the negative history of policing.

Learning Objective: 11-1: Explain the symbiotic relationship of media and police.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Police and Media: A Symbiotic Relationship

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Public perceptions about police are more about what the media choose to share and how the story is framed, than about what the police actually do.

Learning Objective: 11-1: Explain the symbiotic relationship of media and police.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Police and Media: A Symbiotic Relationship

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. People’s perspectives are more likely to be shaped and molded by our direct experiences, rather than our interaction with others.

Learning Objective: 11-2: Explain media impact on public perceptions of crime and policing.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Social Construction Versus Direct Experience

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Most people have direct experience or contact with police.

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Entertainment Media

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Fear of crime and fear of victimization are compounded by beliefs that police are unable to do anything about crime.

Learning Objective: 11-4: Explain impact of media on fear of crime.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: News Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Fear of crime has a lot to do with actual victimization.

Learning Objective: 11-4: Explain impact of media on fear of crime.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Fear of Crime

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. The fear of crime has a significant impact on quality of life issues for most people.

Learning Objective: 11-4: Explain impact of media on fear of crime.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Fear of Crime

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. People are more likely to experience actual victimization of crime than fear of crime.

Learning Objective: 11-4: Explain impact of media on fear of crime.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Fear of Crime

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. The use of social media contributes to the social construction of crime and justice.

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Social Media

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Law enforcement uses only the news media, rather than social media, to disseminate information to the public.

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Investigation of Social Media Crimes

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. Describe the relationship between the media and its audience. Why might some argue that media coverage of the police does not reflect reality?

Learning Objective: 11-1: Explain the symbiotic relationship of media and police.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Police and Media: A Symbiotic Relationship

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Explain the theory of social constructionism. What does it argue?

Learning Objective: 11-2: Explain media impact on public perceptions of crime and policing.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Social Construction Versus Direct Experience

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Explain why the link between media content and fear of crime is multidimensional.

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Investigative Reporting

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Explain investigative reporting. What do investigative reporters believe their role is in the newsroom and for the public?

Learning Objective: 11-3: Describe media portrayals of police in news and entertainment.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Investigative Reporting

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Explain how the public uses social media. Can you think of any recent examples where the public has used social media to bring attention to issues concerning law enforcement, whether positive or negative?

Learning Objective: 11-5: Explain how social media presents both opportunities for crime innovation and crime prevention and solving.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Public Use of Social Media

Difficulty Level: Hard