2.3: Myths and Realities
- Page ID
- 47893
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Myths and Realities
Before we get into the process of data collection, let’s test your knowledge about a few crime trends. Then you can see if your views have been based on popular myths or statistical realities. It is important in the criminal justice field to base our laws and policies on factual information, not just what a couple of individuals think might be going on.
Once we begin measuring a phenomenon, it is interesting how much we can learn about it. For instance, how much do you know about the crime of “carjacking” which is basically someone stealing your car while you are still in it—a combination of motor vehicle theft and kidnapping? Did you know that victims are injured 24% of the time; about half are committed by groups of males; most occur during evening hours; it is a type of robbery. Let me explain that a “completed” crime is one that was finished and then reported by someone, while an “attempted” crime is one that was started but due to defensive actions of the victim or for some other reason was never completed.
How Crime/Victimization Is Measured
So how do we know what is a myth and what is reality? To understand the crime phenomena, we measure aspects of it in society. No data set or research method is perfect, but they can be used as valuable tools for accurately estimating the scope of the problem.
Survey Data
There are three main methods used to obtain crime/victimization information. One method is through the use of survey data. When using the survey technique, it is important that you have a representative or random sample. Information can be collected in an interview setting or through the use of questionnaires. If I wanted to know something about my students in a traditional classroom, I could randomly ask a few of them to find out what I needed to know. It would be important that I did not just ask the women or just the people in the front of class because their answers may be different than the average student.
Aggregate Record Data
Aggregate record data is a complex sounding term which simply refers to the process of putting together the information from a group (aggregate) of official files (records). For instance, rather than asking my students questions in class, if I had permission, I could look at their official transcripts. In the field of criminal justice, there are a lot of official records (often in triplicate) which we can use to study crime and criminals.
Image 2.2
Other
There is a wide assortment of other methods which are occasionally, but not often used in criminal justice. For instance, you can study something by observing it. Perhaps I would observe note-taking behavior in the class. Some researchers use the experimental method. Perhaps I have given you one set of notes and everyone else a different set of notes and then I will compare how well you do (OK—not really). A few researchers use the life history method which makes for interesting reading to learn about the life of a gang member or a serial killer, but these findings usually cannot be generalized back to a large group.