METHODS OF MEASURING THE IMPACT OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION THROUGH VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS

• NCJ Number: 62255
• Author(s): M A Y RIFAI
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: Applied Systems Research and Development, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PREPARED FOR PRESENTATION AT THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON VICTIMOLOGY, MUENSTER/WESTPHALIA, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, SEPTEMBER 2-8, 1979

Annotation

PRINCIPAL FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN MEASURING THE IMPACT OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE ON ITS VICTIM AND THE FEAR OF POTENTIAL CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IF ADEQUATE MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS ARE TO BE DEVELOPED IN VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS, AND IN THE FIELD OF VICTIMOLOGY AS A WHOLE, THREE ISSUES ARE PARAMOUNT. FIRST, MORE RIGOROUS TESTING OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS QUESTIONS MUST BE USED PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION. THIS TESTING MUST EMPHASIZE PRECISION IN TERMINOLOGY AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE QUESTION TO THE AREA OF CONCERN. SECOND, FURTHER STUDY WILL BE REQUIRED TO DEFINE THE CAUSES AND MANIFESTATIONS OF FEAR AND THE IMPACT OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION. IF THE CAUSES AND MANIFESTATIONS CAN BE DEFINED, THEN THE QUESTIONS CAN BE FORMULATED TO ELICIT THE MOST USEFUL RESPONSES. THIRD, IT IS NECESSARY TO VALIDATE EMPIRICALLY THE ASSUMPTIONS OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF VICTIMIZATIONS. ONLY BY EMPIRICAL VALIDATION OF THESE ASSUMPTIONS, AND OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FEAR OF CRIME, CAN A LOGICAL ANALYSIS OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS BE DEVELOPED. ONLY BY FULFILLING THE AFOREMENTIONED STANDARDS CAN A LOGICAL ANALYSIS OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS BE DEVELOPED. ONLY BY DEGREE OF RELIABILITY REQUIRED FOR POLICY INFORMATION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)