MEASUREMENT PROBLEMS IN OFFICIAL AND SURVEY CRIME RATES

• NCJ Number: 27238
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1975) Pages: 17-31
• Author(s): W G Skogan
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER ANALYZES SOURCES OF ERROR IN THE TWO MAJOR METHODS USED TO MEASURE CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES OFFICIAL POLICE STATISTICS AND VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT THESE TWO METHODS OF CRIME MEASUREMENT PRODUCE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT PICTURES OF THE VOLUME AND DISTRIBUTION OF CRIME. THE SOURCES OF ERROR IN BOTH THESE METHODS ARE REVIEWED. SOURCES OF ERROR IN POLICE STATISTICS INCLUDE LACK OF CRIME REPORTING, POLICE CLASSIFICATION AND RECORDING OF EVENTS, ERRORS IN RECORDS, AND IMPROPER STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF INFORMATION. POSSIBLE SOURCES OF SURVEY ERROR LIE IN LOCATING THE VICTIMS, ELICITING ACCURATE RESPONSES, AND ACCURATELY CLASSIFYING THE RESPONSES. COMMON ERRORS SUCH AS FRAUDULENT CLAIMS OR MISCLASSIFICATIONS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. METHODS OF ESTIMATING THE MAGNITUDE OF ERROR IN THESE CRIME MEASURES ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE VALUE OF EMPLOYING MULTIPLE MEASURES OF THE SAME SET OF CRIME EVENTS IS NOTED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)