Which method is defined as a set of operations applied to understand the world around us?

The correct choice, science, is defined as a systematic approach to understanding the world through observation, experimentation, and evidence-based reasoning. This method relies on the scientific process, which includes forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, collecting data, and drawing conclusions based on empirical evidence. Science seeks to uncover truths about the natural and social worlds, making it a powerful tool in research, including in the field of criminal justice.

In contrast to science, ideology refers to a set of beliefs or principles that guide a group's worldview and practices, often without the rigorous testing of those beliefs. Religion encompasses belief systems often based on faith and spiritual insights rather than empirical evidence. Common sense reflects general practical judgments and opinions based on everyday experiences, but may not utilize systematic investigation or rigorous reasoning, leading to subjective or anecdotal understandings rather than objective knowledge. Thus, science stands out as the method defined by its systematic operations aimed at comprehensively understanding various phenomena.