Creating a Data Archive to Facilitate Research on Understanding and Responding to Terrorism (From Understanding Terrorism: Analysis of Sociological and Psychological Aspects, P 306--317, 2007, Suleyman Ozeren, Ismail Dincer Gunes, et al., -- See NCJ-225410)

• NCJ Number: 225436
• Author(s): Christopher D. Maxwell; Steven Chermak
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2003-IJ-R-0004
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

After explaining why there is a need for an archive that focuses on terrorism, this chapter reviews the development, activities, and future plans of the Terrorism Data Resource Center (TDRC), which is jointly managed by researchers at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

Abstract

There needs to be an archive that focuses on terrorism in order to facilitate the accountability and transparency of terrorism-related research, as well as to improve the development and rigor of terrorism-related research. Another reason for building a terrorism-focused archive is to serve the growing body of faculty and graduate students from around the world who are focusing on terrorism-related research. In creating the TDRC, the planners decided not to formulate a definition of terrorism and will not likely do so in the future. Instead, they started building the archive by constructing a list of keywords. The list now has 57 words and phrases, including "biological warfare," "chemical attack," "asset protection," "extremists/extremism," "preparedness," and "homeland security." The list also includes many specific terrorism/terrorist keywords, such as "bio-terrorism," "counterterrorism," and "ecoterrorism." Planners also anticipate the archive will contain data on both United States and international data about terrorism (however defined) perpetrated by those within and external to a Nation. They also expect to house collections that document incidents, organizations, offenders, victims, and the response and prevention of these incidents and organizations. This chapter also explains how the TDRC will select studies, identify nonarchived data collections, and improve access to the archive. The TDRC has already begun identifying relevant studies cited by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service and compiled an additional list of 50 databases used in terrorism publications. Also, materials will be developed in order to market the archive more broadly. 1 figure and 29 references