NCJ Number
47114
Date Published
1976
Length
88 pages
Annotation
ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF GATHERING DATA FOR VICTIMIZATION STUDIES ARE EXPLORED, WITH EMPHASIS ON SAMPLING TECHNIQUES OF USE IN AREAS WITH DIFFUSED OR MIXED URBAN/RURAL POPULATIONS.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, N.H., IN 1976. OF THE METHODOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES EXAMINED, QUOTA SAMPLING -- OBTAINING INTERVIEWS WITH SPECIFIED NUMBERS OF PERSONS REPRESENTATIVE OF SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS -- APPEARS MOST PROMISING. WHEREAS BLOCK SAMPLING MAY COST UP TO $30 PER CASE, QUOTA SAMPLING RESULTS ARE GENERALLY RELIABLE. WITH REFINEMENTS, THE TECHNIQUE SHOULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENTLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES. ADVANTAGES ARE ALSO FOUND IN THE TECHNIQUES OF RANDOM DIGIT DIALING AND WEIGHTING BY OVERSAMPLING. THE MAIL SAMPLING TECHNIQUE IS FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT. THE MOST STRIKING FINDING WITH REGARD TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VICTIMS IS THEIR SIMILARITY TO OFFENDERS. BOTH VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS TEND TO BE YOUNG, UNMARRIED, NOT THE HEAD OF A HOUSEHOLD, AND OF RELATIVELY LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. SUCH FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT MOST VICTIMIZATION IS INTRASOCIETAL. FURTHER STUDIES COMPARING RANDOM DIGIT DIALING AND QUOTA SAMPLING TO TRADITIONAL SAMPLING METHODS ARE RECOMMENDED. SUPPORTING DATA, SURVEY INSTRUMENTS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)