NCJ Number
61432
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 35-42
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
USING DATA FROM SWEDEN, THIS STUDY COMPARED RESPONDENTS AND NONRESPONDENTS TO RESEARCH SURVEYS DIRECTED AT OFFENDERS; RESULTS SHOW THAT THE LOWER THE CLASS OF THE SURVEY RECIPIENT, THE LESS LIKELY A RESPONSE.
Abstract
CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH FREQUENTLY USES THE SURVEY METHODS, AND THE TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED TO DETERMINE THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE SURVEY SAMPLE DEPEND UPON THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF RESPONDENTS. NONRESPONSE IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT IN OFFENDER RESEARCH. DATA FROM CENTRALIZED PUBLIC RECORDS FOR 1975 ON 100 OFFENDERS WERE SELECTED FOR THIS STUDY. THEY INCLUDED SEX OF OFFENDERS, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, OCCUPATION, INCOME, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT HISTORY, OFFENSE, CONVICTION, PRIOR RECORD, AND SANCTION IMPOSED; QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO THE SAME 100 OFFENDERS WITH A COVER LETTER DESCRIBING THE RESEARCH AS UNIVERSITY BASED. ONLY 28 RESPONSES WERE OBTAINED. WHEN LEGAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES CONCERNING RESPONDENTS AND NONRESPONDENTS WERE COMPARED AND ANALYZED USING MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES (INCLUDING STEPWISE DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS AND HOTELLING T), RESULTS SHOWED THAT ONLY SOCIAL CLASS, OF ALL THE LEGAL AND NONLEGAL VARIABLES ANALYZED, DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN RESPONDENTS AND NONRESPONDENTS; THE LOWER THE CLASS, THE LESS LIKELY THE RESPONSE TO THE SURVEY. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)