NCJ Number
113883
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 301-309
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This critique of a paper by Lab and Hirschel concerning the relationship between crime and the weather concludes that the authors' methodology and assumptions are sometimes flawed and offers suggestions for their future research on this topic.
Abstract
Lab and Hirschel have treated the physical variables of weather elements as though they are social variables and are unaware of the complex and dynamic nature of weather. They also consistently treat weather and climate as synonymous. In addition, they fail to acknowledge seasonal differences in weather patterns. They also omit analyses of temporal, daily, diurnal, or hourly effects. They could improve their research by creating different scales of the temporal dimension, examining a broader range of literature on weather, being skeptical of research with student subjects, considering lagging and differencing variables, and obtaining assistance from climatologists or meteorologists in their universities. Table and 18 references.