NCJ Number
43732
Date Published
1977
Length
62 pages
Annotation
The development and methodology of the National Crime Survey Program, availability of the data under various classifications, and the high response obtained by this research are presented in nonstatistical terms.
Abstract
Since 1972, the Bureau of the Census has conducted victimization surveys known as the National Crime Survey (NCS) for LEAA. More than one million interviews have been conducted to gather information about rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft victimizations. In this report, the development and methodology of the NCS is discussed in terms understandable to the person who is not a professional research methodologist. Included are sections on the nature of questions asked and the availability of the data for various methods of classification. Substantive research based on NCS data is surveyed, and methodological research conducted to improve the survey program is discussed. The NCS is broken down into city samples and a national sample. A supplement surveys attitudes toward crime. Problems being researched are interviewing 12 and 13 year old respondents, the effect of the supplemental attitude questionnaire, analysis of screening questions, and possible biases in recall and reporting. Bibliographic references are given for readers who wish more technical detail. Appendixes include the NCS household interview, commercial interview, and city survey attitude questionnaires. (Author abstract modified).