Examining the Effects of Victimization, Vicarious Victimization, and Perceived Risk - Research Paper Example

Fear of Property Crime: Examining the Effects of Victimization, Vicarious Victimization, and Perceived Risk Journal Review College Introduction The academic journal “Fear of Property Crime: Examining the Effects of Victimization, Vicarious Victimization, and Perceived Risk,” written by Carrie L. Cook and Kathleen A. Fox (2011) builds on the line of research, that the research on crime has mainly focused generally on the fear that comes from the possibility of a crime happening or on the fear of particular types of crimes that are violent. This academic journal focused mainly on the night fear arising out property crimes, six in total. These crimes are; car theft, home burglary while away, bicycle theft, vandalism, theft of property and car burglary. The research article also examined the effects arising out of victimization and the risk of this fear of property crime. Methods Used Cook and Fox (2011) used the survey data obtained from the college students which revealed the victimizations were not useful in predicting property crime fear. However, perceived risk was reliable and important in predicting the fear of all property crimes. The data for the research was collected from the survey of students who had enrolled in courses dealing with criminology at a big university during the 2008 and 2009 semesters. After getting approval from the relevant college authorities, the students were invited to anonymously and voluntarily complete surveys on the research. However, there was no compensation in regards to the taking part in the survey by the students. Additionally, all the students agreed to take part apart from one resulting in 99 percent response rate (p. 689). Among the survey questions ranged from; questions involving victimization and perceived risk of victimization; their own experiences and of those they know of and the fear of crime. 282 students were involved in this survey and the makeup of this sample was; 68 percent were white, 42 percent male, and the mean age was 21 with the standard deviation of 5 2.01 (p. 689). The respondents were questioned to rate the extent at which they were individually afraid of a number (six) of property crimes. These crimes included, bicycle theft, car burglary, car theft, property theft and burglary involving their homes. The sample questions that were used included how individually they were afraid during the night of a possibility that someone was vandalizing their property. The options that were available for each of the question included; “not afraid (coded as 0), somewhat afraid (coded as 1), afraid (coded as 2), and very afraid (coded as 3)” (Cook & Fox, 2011, p. 689). The questions were repeated two times to include fear during the day and also during the night. The daytime variables were used for the purpose of control while the night variables were six points. The Advantages and Disadvantages of this Research Method One of the advantages of the method used in this research was that it was characterized with a very high reliable response rate of 99 percent. This response rate of the respondents was a strong point and it increased its efficiency and reliability to some point. Additionally, prior other researches use college students’ samples in their study (Payne & Chappell, 2008, p. 175- 192). Through the research method employed in “Fear of Property Crime: Examining the Effects of Victimization, Vicarious Victimization, and Perceived Risk,” made important contributions in terms of literature concerning fear in a number ways; six in number. The research examined the limited field of research exploring and isolating while employing measurement and analysis through this method of research. The method provided an enabling environment into the understanding of the fear (p. 695). One of the important benefits of this method that was employed in this research is that, by using college students enrolled in courses touching on criminology subject made the use of required concepts and detail which was important for the researcher. One of the disadvantages comes from the fact that the research was conducted through the use of data obtained from college students of one university. The sample may be considered little for it included only the students who were enrolled in a specific course, in this case courses dealing with criminology. This calls for caution when generalizing this research to the bigger college population. In conducting research, individuals in this case college students may be compelled to give information that is not truthful because of various reasons ranging from not wanting to reveal undesirable traits of themselves in case of offenders to exaggeration of information with the intent of looking good before the researcher. Important experiences are unconscious and sometimes are prevented by personal defenses like repression or denial. In this regard a person’s experiences cannot be taken at face value. So this reduces reliability of the research using this method. The distinction between fear and other emotions is hard and can mislead conclusions about the prevalence of property fear (Farrall & Gadd, 2004). So in essence this method of research employed by Cook and Fox (2011) does not essentially counter the problem of disjoining fear and emotions. Conclusion This research would be improved by examination of other samples to in determination of how reliable and valid the findings are. This can be done by inclusion of samples from the general population for example, juveniles and offenders. The study should include fear from different settings which would be inclusive of the dynamism of ways in which property fear may change. The research should explore the question of sex differences in the fear of property crime. The study should explore fear in different contexts in this regard. The research can be improved if concerns over decline of the community, disorder among others are put into consideration when doing the study in determination of property crime fear (Bursik & Grasmick, 1993). In certain terms, the breaking of the complex issue surrounding the fear of crime and its corresponding determinants through measurement and analysis of these determinants by its own remains an important area of research in this field. The property crime fear is based on calculated personal judgments on the perception of the risk of victimization. By this, it was limitations can arise in trying to quantify such varying personal judgments in a sample selected. References Bursik, R. J., Jr., & Grasmick, H. G. (1993). Neighborhoods and crime: The dimensions of effective community control. New York: Lexington Books. Cook C. & Fox K., (2011), Fear of Property Crime: Examining the Effects of Victimization, Vicarious Victimization, and Perceive, Violence and victims, Springer Publishing company, 26 (5), 684-700. Dubow, F., MacCabe, E., & Kaplan, G. (1980). Reactions to crime: : a critical review of the literature. Washington: National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Farrall, S., & Gadd, D. (2004). Fear today, gone tomorrow: Do surveys overstate fear levels? Unpublished manuscript. Retrieved from http://www.istat.it/istat/eventi/2003/perunasocieta/relazioni/Farral_abs.pdf Payne, B. K., & Chappell, A. T. (2008). Using student samples in criminological research. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 19(2), 175–192. Read More