BYSTANDER REPORTING OF A CRIME-THE IMPACT OF INCENTIVES

• NCJ Number: 62627
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 283-300
• Author(s): L BICKMAN; H HELWIG
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): GS-35280
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT DESCRIBES A FIELD EXPERIMENT THAT STUDIED BYSTANDER REPORTING OF A CRIME AND THE IMPACT OF MONETARY REWARDS AND ANONYMITY ON SUCH REPORTING.

Abstract

HUNDREDS OF INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY-ACTION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT BY OFFERING A MONETARY REWARD AND ANONYMITY TO ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO REPORT A CRIME. IN THE EXPERIMENT, CONDITIONS OF ANONYMITY AND REWARD WERE UNOBTRUSIVELY VARIED DURING A SIMULATED INTERVIEW CONDUCTED WITH 120 SHOPPERS BEFORE THEY ENTERED A LARGE SUPERMARKET. RESULTS REVEALED A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUBJECTS' BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS AND REPORTING BEHAVIORS, AND INDICATED THAT REWARD AND ANONYMITY DO NOT AFFECT THE REPORTING OF A CRIME. NO SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN REPORTING BEHAVIOR WAS FOUND WHEN A REWARD WAS OFFERED. THIS LENDS TENTATIVE SUPPORT TO THE POSITION THAT REPORTING BEHAVIOR IS INTRINSICALLY MOTIVATED AT A HIGH LEVEL AND IS THEREFORE NOT INITIALLY AFFECTED BY THE PRESENCE OF AN EXTERNAL REWARD. ONE EXPLANATION FOR THE NONSIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANONYMITY AND REPORTING BEHAVIOR MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE PERCEPTION OF ANONYMITY ON THE PART OF SOME OF THE SUBJECTS. RESULTS THUS INDICATE THAT REWARD AND ANONYMITY MAY NOT BE AS EFFECTIVE AS THE PUBLIC WAS LED TO BELIEVE BY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)