NCJ Number
52593
Journal
Victimology Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1976) Pages: 585-589
Date Published
1976
Length
5 pages
Annotation
VICTIMIZATION RECALL WAS EXAMINED OVER TIME SPANS RANGING FROM UNDER 1 YEAR TO 68 YEARS USING DATA FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY OF HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW ZEALAND.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE MAILED TO 5,190 HOUSEHOLDS SELECTED AT RANDOM FROM TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES IN 78 TOWNS AND CITIES. THESE LOCALITIES REPRESENTED ALL COMMUNITIES IN NEW ZEALAND WITH A POPULATION OF OVER 5,000 AS OF 1973. THE FINAL SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 2,593 HOUSEHOLD HEADS YIELDING A 50-PERCENT RESPONSE RATE. THERE APPEARED TO BE A LOSS OF RECALL AFTER THE FIRST 2 YEARS. ALTHOUGH ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS WERE CONSIDERED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SIMILARITY IN VICTIMIZATION RATES OVER TIME WAS LARGELY DUE TO RECALL BIAS. THE OFFICIAL REPORTED PROPERTY OFFENSE RATE FOR 1973 WAS 4.5 PER HUNDRED, WHEREAS IT WAS ESTIMATED IN THE SURVEY THAT THE ACTUAL VICTIMIZATION RATE WAS ABOUT 10 PER HUNDRED. THE OFFICIAL REPORTED PERSONAL CRIME RATE WAS 0.4 PER HUNDRED, BUT THE SURVEY ESTIMATED THIS RATE AT BETWEEN 3 AND 4 PER HUNDRED. THE EXTENT OF MEMORY LOSS IN ALL HOUSEHOLD HEADS WAS SUBSTANTIAL; ONLY 16 PERCENT REMEMBERED EVER BEING THE VICTIM OF A PROPERTY CRIME. SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS NOT INCLUDED. (DEP)