NCJ Number
37134
Journal
SOCIOMETRY Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1976) Pages: 76-82
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
TWO STUDIES WERE UNDERTAKEN TO EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A SUBJECT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD AN AUTHORITY AND THE REPORTING OF A STAGED SHOPLIFTING.
Abstract
IN THE FIRST STUDY, THE OVERALL REPORTING RATE WAS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO PLEASANT, UNPLEASANT, OR NEUTRAL IMPRESSIONS OF A SALES CLERK; HOWEVER, THE MORE PLEASANT THE CLERK, THE MORE LIKELY THE SUBJECT WAS TO REPORT TO HER RATHER THAN TO RESPOND TO THE THEFT IN ANOTHER WAY. IN A CONCEPTUAL REPLICATION AND EXTENSION OF THE FIRST STUDY, A LABORATORY STUDY WAS CONDUCTED WITH ONLY ONE AUTHORITY TO WHOM THE SUBJECT COULD REPORT. MORE REPORTING OCCURRED WHEN SUBJECTS WERE CUED TO REPORT ANY SHOPLIFTING THAN WHEN THEY WERE NOT, BUT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBJECT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE AUTHORITY. IMPLICATIONS OF THE RELATIVE UNIMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDE TOWARD AN AUTHORITY FOR CRIME REPORTING ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)