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Defining the "Hot Spots of Crime": Operationalizing Theoretical Concepts for Field Research (From Crime and Place, P 237-257, 1995, John E Eck and David Weisburd, eds. -- See NCJ- 160730)

NCJ Number
160741
Author(s)
M E Buerger; E G Cohn; A J Petrosino
Date Published
1995
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This research explored difficulties in transforming theoretical definitions of place into operational terms, where rigid boundaries of place in the abstract conflict with more fluid social definitions of place.
Abstract
The process of operationalizing computer-constructed "hot spots" for a 1988-1989 crime experiment in Minneapolis illustrated mutual effects between experimental design requirements and practical concerns of both field research and operational policy. Experimental results identified at least three different decision points where abstract concepts of space had to be negotiated in operational terms: (1) in the nature of human techniques and practices that assign activities to particular addresses in official records; (2) in the attribution of public space; and (3) in conflict over the nature of boundaries, distinct and discrete in computerized representations but invisible and fluid under field conditions. 11 references

Grant Number(s)
88-IJ-CX-0009
Sponsoring Agency
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Address

999 N. Capitol St. NE, Washington, DC 20531, United States

US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
Address

810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531, United States

Sale Source
Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
Address

1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 930, Washington, DC 20036, United States

Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
Address

United States

Publication Type
Research (Applied/Empirical)
Language
English
Country
United States of America
Note
*This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Crime Prevention Studies, Volume 4