Handbook of quantitative criminology (original) (raw)
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New tools of analysis in quantitative criminology: an exploration
1996
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Crime data is at the heart of quantitative criminology research in particular and social science research in general. In the past years, many sources of crime data have been proposed to understand, describe and explain crime and criminality, but never before have the majority of these sources been tested using a huge number of crimes and applying different multivariate methods. A large-scale analysis and comparison of various sources of crime data is crucial if current analytical methods are to be used effectively and if new and more powerful methods are to be developed. This article presents the results of a comparison of the four main sources of crime data commonly used in quantitative criminology, in order to determine the best data source that can tell the whole truth about the extent or the true level of crime occurring in a society. Based on the results of these tests, a more comprehensive approach to measure crime is proposed, which represents all categories of crime and covers the offences committed. The result of the analysis is empirically-based, objective, and replicable evidence which can be used in conjunction with existing literature on the quantitative methods in criminology. Abstract-Crime data is at the heart of quantitative criminology research in particular and social science research in general. In the past years, many sources of crime data have been proposed to understand, describe and explain crime and criminality, but never before have the majority of these sources been tested using a huge number of crimes and applying different multivariate methods. A large-scale analysis and comparison of various sources of crime data is crucial if current analytical methods are to be used effectively and if new and more powerful methods are to be developed. This article presents the results of a comparison of the four main sources of crime data commonly used in quantitative criminology, in order to determine the best data source that can tell the whole truth about the extent or the true level of crime occurring in a society. Based on the results of these tests, a more comprehensive approach to measure crime is proposed, which represents all categories of crime and covers the offences committed. The result of the analysis is empirically-based, objective, and replicable evidence which can be used in conjunction with existing literature on the quantitative methods in criminology.
Data Analysis for Criminal Justice and Criminology, Practice and Applications
2000
Each chapter includes "Chapter Exercises" and "Chapter Reading." 1.An Introduction to Descriptive and Inferential Statistics in Criminal Justice. Levels of Measurement. Descriptive Statistics. Ratios, Percentages, Proportions, and Rates. Measures of Central Tendency. Measures of Dispersion. Introducing Statistical Concepts. Tracy L. Snell, Capital Punishment 1996. 2.Constructing and Interpreting Contingency Tables. Cross-Tabulation. Cross-Tabulation with Ordinal Variables. Multivariate Analysis of Contingency Tables. Byron R. Johnson, David B. Larson, and Timothy C. Pitts, Religious Programs, Institutional Adjustment, and Recidivism among Former Inmates in Prison Fellowship Programs. 3.Testing Hypotheses with Contingency Tables: Chi-Square. Relationships in Populations and Samples. The Chi-Square Test. Interpretation of Chi-Square. The Meaning of Statistical Significance. Michael G. Breci, Female Officers on Patrol: Public Perceptions in the 1990s. 4.Measures of ...
A brief overview of quantitative criminology in Australasia: 1981–1995
Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 1996
This paper reviews quantitative criminological research, especially of a sophisticated mathematical nature, published by researchers in Australia and New Zealand since 1981. A statistical analysis of quantitative articles published between 1981 and 1995 in the leading academic journal.The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, showed that using the five topical categories developed by Farrington (this issue), there has been
The Handbook of Measurement Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. eBooks, 2016
When persons first began to study crime victims, it was with the realization that victims may play a role in their own victimization. Those at the forefront of the process that generated the field of victimology were primarily concerned with the role of victim precipitation and with creating victim typologies; they were much less concerned with measuring or estimating the extent of criminal victimization (Schafer, 1968; von Hentig, 1948). That is, early work in the field of victimology was centered on identifying the extent to which victims contributed to their own victimization and with classifying victims into groups on the basis of their level of contribution or responsibility. When researchers began identifying and counting the number of different types of crime victims and collecting information about the characteristics of these incidents, they quickly found themselves challenged by the complexity of what, on the surface, appears to be a deceivingly simple measure ment tasks. It is important that victimization is measured effectively, so that the true extent of this phenomenon is known. Moreover, who is most likely to be victimized needs to be appropriately identified so that prevention resources can be directed at those most at risk. Measuring criminal victimization, as it turns out, is surprisingly difficult. Estimates derived are highly contingent upon how victimization is measured and upon a host of methodological choices. In this chapter we describe how some of the issues surrounding measurement influence the estimates and the characteristics of victimization that are produced. In addition, we present new developments in measurement, as well as potential new strategies for reducing measurement error and for analyzing survey data.
The Oxford Handbooks in Criminology and Criminal Justice
The Oxford Handbooks In Criminology And Criminal fusti ce offer authoritative, comprehensive, and critical overviews of the state of the art of criminology and criminal justice. Each volume focuses on a major area of each discipline, is edited by a distinguished group of specialists, and contains specially commissioned, original essays from leading international scholars in their respective fields. Guided by the general editorship of Michael Tonry, the series will provide an invaluable reference for scholars, students, and policy makers seeking to understand a wide range of research and policies in criminology and criminal justice.
An Overview of Issues in Criminological Theory Introduction to the Book
W elcome to the world of criminological theory! It is an exciting and complex endeavor that explains why certain individuals and groups commit crimes and why other people do not. This book will explore the conceptual history of this endeavor as well as current theories. Most of us can relate directly to many of these theories; we may know friends or family members who fit dominant models of criminal behavior. This introduction begins by describing what criminology is; what distinguishes it from other perspectives of crime, such as religion, journalism, or philosophy; and how definitions of crime vary across time and place. Then, it examines some of the major issues used to classify different theories of criminology. After exploring the various paradigms and categories of criminological theory, we discuss what characteristics help to make a theory a good one-in criminology or in any scientific field. In addition, we review the specific criteria for proving causality-for showing what predictors or variables actually cause criminal behavior. We also explain why-for logistic and ethical reasons-few theories in criminology will ever meet the strict criteria required to prove that key factors actually cause criminal behavior. Finally, we look at the strengths and weaknesses of the various measures of crime, which are used to test the validity of all criminological theories, and what those measures reveal about how crime is distributed across various individuals and groups. Although the discussion of crime distribution, as shown by various measures of criminality, may seem removed from our primary discussion regarding theories of why certain individuals and groups commit more crime than others, nothing could be further from the truth. Ultimately, all theories of criminal behavior will be judged based on how much each theory can explain the observed rates of crime shown by the measures of criminality among individuals and groups. 1 Stephen Brown, Finn Esbensen, and Gilbert Geis, Criminology, 6th ed. (Cincinnati: LexisNexis, 2007).