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NCJRS Abstract
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NCJ Number: 47891
Title: REPLY TO SINGER
Journal: CRIMINOLOGY Volume:16 Issue:1 Dated:(MAY 1978) Pages:103-107
Author(s): J P LEVINE
Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
Date Published: 1978
Page Count: 5
Sponsoring Agency: Regional Institute of Social Welfare Research, Inc.
Format: Article
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Annotation: QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE UTILITY OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS IN THE STUDY OF CRIME ARE ADDRESSED.
Abstract: THE DISCUSSION IS A RESPONSE TO A COMMENT (NCJ-47891) ON THE AUTHOR'S CRITIQUE OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS (NCJ-39470). THE COMMENT PRAISED SUCH SURVEYS, WHEREAS THE AUTHOR QUESTIONED THE VALIDITY OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED IN THE SURVEYS AND THE INTERPRETATION OF INCIDENTS DESCRIBED BY RESPONDENTS TO SURVEYORS. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE VALIDITY QUESTION CANNOT BE SETTLED CONCLUSIVELY ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CRIME SURVEYS. IT IS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COSTS INVOLVED IN SIMPLY OBTAINING AN ADEQUATE SAMPLE PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF SOPHISTICATED RELIABILITY CHECKS FOR VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS CONDUCTED WITHIN SMALL BUDGETS. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO OMIT MINOR INCIDENTS -- MATTERS THAT ARE RELATED TO SURVEYORS (E.G., STREET SKIRMISHES, SMALL THEFTS) BUT NOT REPORTED TO THE POLICE -- FROM INTERPRETATION OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEY FINDINGS IS SAID TO BE A MORE PROFOUND ISSUE THAN RELIABILITY. THE NEED TO CONTINUE AN OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEY METHODOLOGY IS NOTED. (LKM)
Index Term(s): Research methods; Surveys; Victimization
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