More accurately capturing data on crime using surveys

More accurately capturing data on crime using surveys
Figure 1. Correlation with the police data by topic and “method” in the data aggregated for 2015 to 2020. Variables were transformed prior by adding 1 and taking the log. Credit: DOI: 10.1177/00111287211064779

As part of the ESRC research grant Recounting Crime, Alexandru Cernat, David Buil-Gil, Ian Brunton-Smith, Jose Pina-Sánchez, and Marta Murrià-Sangenís have published a new article in the journal Crime & Delinquency.

In their work they assess if asking about the places where crimes happen leads to estimates of " in place" with better measurement properties. They analyzed from the Barcelona Victimization Survey (2015–2020) aggregated in 73 neighborhoods using longitudinal quasi-simplex models and criterion validity to estimate the quality of four types of survey-based measures of crime.

The distribution of survey-based offense location estimates, as opposed to victim residence estimates, is highly similar to police-recorded crime statistics, and there is little trade off in terms of the reliability and validity of offense location and victim residence measures. Estimates of crimes reported to the police show a better validity, but their reliability is lower and they capture fewer crimes.

More information: Alexandru Cernat et al, Estimating Crime in Place: Moving Beyond Residence Location, Crime & Delinquency (2021). DOI: 10.1177/00111287211064779

Citation: More accurately capturing data on crime using surveys (2022, February 21) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2022-02-accurately-capturing-crime-surveys.html
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