NCJ Number
101610
Date Published
1985
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study of the attitude-behavior relationship of 110 Dutch subjects had 3 parts: subjects' verbal responses toward opening the door to a stranger were assessed via a victimization questionnaire; actual responses were tested 6 months later when a stranger rang the doorbell at about 10 p.m. (3 attempts); and oral interviews were conducted with those who opened their doors, telephone interviews with those who did not.
Abstract
Subjects were equally divided in their attitudes toward opening the door to a stranger. Approximately 75 percent of the door to a stranger. Approximately 75 percent of both groups' responses to the stranger were consistent with their verbally expressed attitudes. Further, the reasons subjects gave for their actions were in conformity with their previously expressed attitudes. In the case of those who did not open their doors despite positive attitudes, reasons for not doing so were likely to be their unavailability at the time or disinterest in participating in the direct-interview survey. Only about 10 percent of the subjects showed genuine inconsistencies between their attitudes and behaviors, and these were mainly subjects who opened their doors despite negative attitudes. Results support the external and convergent validity of the questionnaire responses and point to a close correlation between expressed attitudes and behavior. 7 notes, 18 references, and a list of publications available from the Netherlands Ministry of Justice.