NCJ Number
52553
Editor(s)
C WELLFORD
Date Published
1978
Length
176 pages
Annotation
SIGNIFICANT TRENDS IN STATISTICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING MEASUREMENT, DETERRENCE, LONGITUDINAL STUDIES, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION.
Abstract
THIS COLLECTION OF PAPERS IS INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS IN THE FIELDS OF CRIMINOLOGY, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND LAW WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE NATURE OF CURRENT RESEARCH. THE MEASUREMENT OF CRIME PRESENTS PROBLEMS THAT CAN NOT BE RESOLVED ENTIRELY THROUGH THE STUDY OF OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH SUCH AS THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH TECHNIQUES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO ACCOMODATE THE NEEDS OF CRIMINOLOGICAL STUDIES. SELF-REPORTING LITERATURE IN CRIME MEASUREMENT IS EXAMINED IN TERMS OF THE VALIDITY OF COLLECTED DATA. CONCEPTS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF CRIMINAL EVENTS, BASED ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT, ARE STUDIED. DETERRENCE RESEARCH PAPERS EXPLORE MISLEADING RESULTS IN STUDIES OF DETERRENCE EFFECTIVENESS DUE TO STATISTICAL ARTIFACTS, AS WELL AS AN EXAMINATION OF PERCEPTIONS OF SANCTIONS. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH IS REVIEWED IN THE FOLLOWING STUDIES; (1) A SYSTEMATIC TIME SERIES OF SPECTRAL AND CROSS SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF CRIME WITH RESPECT TO MONTHLY AND YEARLY HOMICIDE RATES; AND (2) THE RELATIONSHIP OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY TO ADULT CRIME. RESEARCH DIRECTED AT DETERMINING THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION ON POLICE VALUES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATES THAT GOVERNMENTAL, ACADEMIC, AND PRACTITIONER REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD CONSIDER THESE ISSUES PRIOR TO UNCONDITIONAL PROMOTION OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL. TABULAR DATA, FIGURES, REFERENCES AND NOTES ARE PROVIDED IN THE VARIOUS PAPERS. FOR SELECTED READINGS, SEE NCJ 49661 AND 52554-52560. (JCP)