Examining experiential fear of crime using STUNDA: Findings from a smartphone-based experience methods study

2021 ◽  
pp. 147737082110353
Author(s):  
Alexander Engström ◽  
Karl Kronkvist
Keyword(s):  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Generalized Estimating Equations ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Theoretical Conclusion ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Lower Odds Ratio

Situational data have become more frequently used in research on offending and victimization. However, one outcome that has received less attention is fear of crime. The current study uses situational data collected through a smartphone application (STUNDA) to examine fear of crime as it is experienced in daily life among a sample of university students. Roughly 1200 situations reported by 129 students were analysed using generalized estimating equations. The results indicate that experiential fear of crime, in the form of worrying about victimization, is related to features of the immediate settings. More specifically, the odds ratio for experiencing fear of crime is significantly higher in places away from home and after dark, whereas social activities are associated with a significantly lower odds ratio, net of individual-level controls (gender, age, previous victimization and fear propensity). Yet, fear propensity, measured here using items that refer to an individual’s general worry about victimization, has an independent significant effect on fear of crime. As a result of the study’s convenience sample, the generalizability of the findings is limited, but a more general theoretical conclusion can nonetheless be drawn; features of settings and individual characteristics are both of importance. Further, the use of experience methods via a smartphone application provided detailed and unique situational data, which suggests that future research should further employ these methods to study situational phenomena such as fear of crime.

Fear of crime and the police

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin N Crowl ◽  
Joshua R Battin
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Police Visibility ◽  
Lifestyle Exposure Theory

Using lifestyle exposure theory as a guide, this study examines the complex relationship between fear of crime and select lifestyle and individual-level constructs. Participants included undergraduate students at two state-funded universities located in Pennsylvania. Student fear of crime at both universities was examined to ascertain what factors influence this emotion-laden phenomenon. Results revealed support for several key fear of crime correlates. Notably, a significant relationship emerged between police visibility and fear of crime in the estimated partial and full models. Results also indicated that student lifestyle choices can impact fear of crime; this relationship can vary across samples, as evidenced in this study. It was also found that multiple individual characteristics, namely gender, race and living arrangement, were positively related to student fear of crime. A discussion and implications are offered to conclude.

Individual difference factors related to anthropomorphic tendency

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 973-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Letheren ◽  
Kerri-Ann L. Kuhn ◽  
Ian Lings ◽  
Nigel K. Ll. Pope
Keyword(s):  
Individual Difference ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Personal Connection ◽  
Experiential Thinking ◽  
Psychology Literature ◽  
The Individual

Purpose This paper aims to addresses an important gap in anthropomorphism research by examining the individual-level factors that correlate with anthropomorphic tendency. Design/methodology/approach The extant psychology, marketing and consumer psychology literature is reviewed, and eight hypotheses devised. Data from 509 online survey respondents are analysed to identify individual characteristics associated with anthropomorphic tendency. Findings The results reveal that anthropomorphic tendency varies by individual and is significantly related to personality, age, relationship status, personal connection to animals and experiential thinking. Research limitations/implications This paper extends on recent research into the individual nature of anthropomorphic tendency, once thought to be a universal trait. Given that this paper is the first of its kind, testing of further traits is merited. It is suggested that future research further examine personality, as well as other elements of individual difference, and test the role of anthropomorphic tendency in the development of processing abilities with age. Practical implications Findings show that anthropomorphic tendency may prove to be a key variable in the segmentation of markets and the design of marketing communications, and that younger, single, more creative, conscientious consumers are an appropriate target for anthropomorphic messages. The importance of personal connection to animals, as well as experiential thinking, is also highlighted. Originality/value Given the importance of anthropomorphic tendency for the processing of messages involving non-human endorsers, as well as the formation of relevant attitudes and behaviours, this paper fulfils an identified need to further understand the characteristics of those high on this tendency.

Fear of Crime

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Rader
Keyword(s):  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Crime Rates ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Neighborhood Disorder ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Time Period ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact

Fear of crime has been a serious social problem studied for almost 40 years. Early researchers focused on operationalization and conceptualization of fear of crime, specifically focusing on what fear of crime was (and was not) and how to best tap into the fear of crime construct. This research also found that while crime rates had been declining, fear of crime rates had stayed relatively stable. Nearly 40% of Americans indicated they were afraid of crime, even though crime was declining during the same time period. This finding led researchers to study the paradox of fear of crime. In other words, why does fear of crime not match up with actual chances of victimization? Several explanations were put forth including a focus on vulnerability (e.g., individuals felt vulnerable to crime even if they were not vulnerable) and a focus on differences in groups (e.g., women were more afraid of crime than men, even though they were less likely to be victims). Thus, many studies began to consider the predictors of fear of crime. Researchers since this time have spent most time studying these fear of crime predictors including individual level predictors (i.e., sex, race, age, social class), contextual predictors (neighborhood disorder, incivilities, and social cohesion), along with the consequences of fear of crime (psychological and behavioral). Such results have provided guidance on what individuals fear, why they fear, and what impact it has on the daily lives of Americans. Future research will continue to focus on groups little is known about, such as Hispanics, and also on the impact of behavior on fear of crime. This future research will likely also benefit from new techniques in survey research that analyzes longitudinal data to determine causality between fear of crime and other predictors such as risk and behavior.

Depolicing: Rhetoric or Reality?

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 437-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willard M. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Police Officer ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Racial Profiling ◽  
Political Rhetoric ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Laws And Policies

While the topic of depolicing is often discussed in political rhetoric, media reporting, and reports on police behavior, there exists little empirical analysis of the phenomenon at the police officer (individual) level. To further our understanding of the phenomenon of depolicing, the present study draws on a convenience sample of 25 police officers from across the United States to provide an inductive understanding of the nature, scope, and causes of depolicing. Among the findings is a strong belief that depolicing is a real and growing phenomenon, that it is more widespread than most agencies are willing to admit, and that its causes are highly varied, but include civil litigation, new laws and policies, and accusations of racial profiling. The article discusses the implications of depolicing and the need for future research.

County Socioeconomic Deprivation and Preterm Birth Risk Between White and Black Mothers in Georgia, USA

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 18-30
Author(s):  
Wei Tu
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Preterm Births ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
County Level ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Individual Level

Past studies have reported the association between living in a socioeconomically deprived neighborhood and elevated preterm births (PtB) risk after adjusting certain individual level confounders. This article examined the association between county-level deprivation and PtB risk of three stratified racial groups, white, black, and the others. The author built two level random intercept logistic regression models using 112,589 single live births retrieved from vital statistics record in Georgia, USA in 2010. Although county level deprivation was found to be insignificant for PtB risk for the entire study population, it had a significant yet modest effect on magnifying the PtB risk of black women (The odds ratio (OR) = 1.063,95% CI = 1.02, 1.12). In addition, the Median Odds Ratio (MOR) (1.229) indicated a weak neighborhood effect on PtB risk and the Interval Odds Ratio (IOR)-80% (0.68-1.49) suggested large unaccounted county-level heterogeneity. Future research will include more confounders at both levels in analysis as well as addressing the uncertain geographic context problem (UGCoP).

“Nanny State” Politics: Causal Attributions About Obesity and Support for Regulation

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald P. Haider-Markel ◽  
Mark R. Joslyn
Keyword(s):  
National Survey ◽  
Attribution Theory ◽  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Policy Preferences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Level Data ◽  
The World ◽  
Individual Choices

We posit that individuals develop causal stories to explain the world around them, including events, behaviors, and conditions in society. These are narratives that attribute causes to controllable components, such as individual choices, or uncontrollable components, such as broader forces in the environment. We use attribution theory to understand how group identity and individual characteristics may shape causal attributions about obesity. Based on previous empirical findings, we argue that attributions and identity can explain policy preferences. We test our hypotheses using individual-level data from a unique national survey of American adults. Our findings suggest that partisan and weight identities predispose people to make certain attributions about obesity, and these attributions influence policy preferences related to obesity. We suggest policymakers need to consider public attributions about obesity and future research should develop more refined measures of attributions.

scholarly journals Guessing the Game: An Individual’s Awareness and Assessment of a Game’s Existence

Games ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Katarina Kostelic
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Strategic Behavior ◽  
Strategic Interaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Scenario Technique ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Game Elements ◽  
Different Levels

In everyday life, games begin inconspicuously, leaving an individual to stumble upon their assessment of a situation. An unaware individual is unlikely to exhibit strategic behavior in a given situation, which highlights the importance of awareness examination. The purpose of this exploratory analysis is to examine awareness and assessment of a game’s existence at the individual level. That requires examination of respondents’ detection (as an indication of their awareness) and identification (as an indication of their assessment) of game elements in game-like situations and their relation to awareness of the game existence. The empirical data is collected using a scenario technique and is statistically analyzed. The results show that the respondents are, on average, at least partially aware of possibility for strategic interaction (even in vague situations). The revealed regularities point out to the relation of the game elements to game existence belief, but also indicate the presence of psychological biases and information utilization issues. For example, the respondents assign different levels of belief to game existence regarding possible losses or gains. Research limitations involve the use of a small convenience sample and lead to suggestions for results validation in future research. Possible implications of the results are discussed.

Neighborhood Context, Street Efficacy, and Fear of Violent Victimization

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Yuan ◽  
Beidi Dong ◽  
Chris Melde
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Neighborhood Context ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Neighborhood Level

Drawing on Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, the current study investigates the relationship between individuals’ perceived self-efficacy of avoiding unsafe situations and fear of violence in a neighborhood context. Specifically, it is hypothesized that adolescents who report higher levels of street efficacy are less likely to exhibit fear of violence than adolescents who report lower levels of street efficacy. Using panel data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, the authors estimate a series of multilevel ordinal logistic regression models to explain the relationship between street efficacy and fear of violence controlling for both individual-level and neighborhood-level covariates. The results confirm the hypothesis that adolescents’ prior street efficacy is negatively associated with subsequent fear of violence. The current study suggests that a social cognitive perspective should be incorporated into the fear of crime literature. Policy implications of the findings are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.

scholarly journals Feasibility of gathering momentary and daily assessments of fear of crime using a smartphone application (STUNDA): Methodological considerations and findings from a study among Swedish university students

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 205979912098030
Author(s):  
Karl Kronkvist ◽  
Alexander Engström
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
The Social ◽  
Methodological Considerations

The introduction of experience research using smartphone applications has enabled researchers to explore previously uncharted territories within the social science landscape. The use of experience research methodologies may both avoid some of the biases associated with conventional survey methods and enable researchers to gather information on situational dimensions of different outcomes. While existing smartphone-based experience research is found in several scientific disciplines, one outcome that has rarely been studied using this approach is fear of crime. Although fear of crime here only serves as an example of an outcome that may benefit from being examined in situ, the main focus of this article is directed at assessing the feasibility of gathering momentary and daily assessments on fear of crime using an experience sampling research design. A sample of 191 university students participated in a non-incentivized research study by downloading the smartphone application STUNDA, completing a baseline survey and repeatedly answering signal-contingent surveys, event-contingent surveys, and daily assessments across a self-defined study period. The results indicate that it is feasible to conduct research on fear of crime using a smartphone application. However, variations in participation across groups indicate that the methodology is perhaps best suited to dedicated groups of participants with a special interest in the studied outcome. Methodological considerations and implications for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Predicting Punitive Attitudes: Racial-Animus towards New Immigrant and Aboriginal Minority Groups as a Mediating Agent upon Public Crime Concerns

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth P. Brookman ◽  
Karl K. K. Wiener
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Fear Of Crime ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Court System ◽  
Punitive Attitudes ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
New Immigrants

<p class="APABody"><em>In English-speaking Western society’s punitive attitudes towards the sentencing of criminal offenders is a well-established phenomenon. Two theoretical models; the Crime-distrust model and Racial-animus model are demonstrated predictors of punitive attitudes. However, little is known about how racial prejudice impacts the association between the public’s crime concerns and their demand for harsher sentencing outcomes. The present study utilises online survey data obtained from a convenience sample of 566 Australian residents to examine the Racial-animus model as a mediating agent upon the Crime-distrust model and its relationship with punitive attitudes. A significant indirect effect of racial animus is demonstrated upon the perception of increasing crime rates and public confidence in the court system and punitive attitudes, regardless of whether animus is towards new-immigrants or Indigenous Australians. A significant indirect relationship between fear of crime and the demand for harsher sentencing is only demonstrated through negative perceptions of new immigrants. Results lend support for a mediation model whereby the indirect effect of fear of crime is significant when mediated by negative sentiment towards new-immigrants but not towards Indigenous Australians. Future research using a representative sample of the Australian population is indicated to increase the confidence with which findings are interpreted.</em></p><p class="APABody"><span><br /></span></p>

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