Lecture 9: Surveys and Interviews in Crime Research

These flashcards include key concepts, facts, and details derived from the lecture on surveys and interviews in crime research, covering various methodological guidelines, question formats, and data collection strategies.

What are the frequent topics in crime surveys as discussed in the lecture?

Victimization and self-reports of offending.

What is the difference between frequency and prevalence in crime surveys?

Frequency refers to how often an event occurs, while prevalence refers to how widespread it is.

What are the guidelines for the formatting of data collection instruments?

They should be easy to read, uncluttered, and short items are best.

What is one guideline for the wording of survey questions?

Use clear wording and avoid negative items.

What should be avoided in survey questions to ensure clarity?

Negative items and biased terms.

How can social desirability bias be minimized in surveys?

By stating privacy provisions and framing questions as common behavior.

What are the two types of response formats mentioned?

Structured/closed-ended and unstructured/open-ended.

What is a major advantage of closed-ended questions?

They are easy to process and analyze.

What is a disadvantage of open-ended questions?

They can lead to misunderstanding and bias.

What is an example of a dichotomous question?

Did you support Covid lockdowns? Yes or No.

What does a multi-option checklist in a survey allow for?

Respondents to select multiple options from a list.

What is an example of a nominal measurement?

Asking about an individual's occupation.

What does an ordinal measurement require?

Ranking items in a specific order.

What is the purpose of a Likert response scale?

To measure levels of agreement or disagreement with a statement.

What type of questions can matrix questions effectively handle?

Questions that assess multiple statements using the same response options.

What is an important consideration when developing survey questions?

Ensure the questions are necessary and useful.

Why is it crucial to specify a time frame in survey questions?

To ensure respondents understand the context of their answers.

What should the order of questions in a survey consider?

Potential order effects, starting with interesting questions.

What are the two types of self-report data collection methods highlighted?

Group-administered surveys and mail/e-mail surveys.

What are the advantages of mail surveys?

They offer privacy and are relatively cheap.

What challenges do online surveys present?

Generalizability and control over context.

What factor can increase response rates in surveys?

Making the survey easy to return and providing prepaid return options.

What is the response rate formula?

Response rate = number of complete surveys / number of eligible cases.

What are some categories of nonresponse in survey data?

1) Not included in sample frame, 2) In sample frame but not contacted, 3) Contacted but refused to answer, 4) Contacted but unable to answer.

What is one advantage of in-person interviews?

They can increase data quality through establishing rapport.

What issue could arise from interviewer bias?

It can lead to skewed data results.

What is a multi-method approach in survey data collection?

Using various combinations of methods to enhance data quality.

What is a potential drawback of video interviews compared to face-to-face interviews?

They may reduce the ability to establish rapport.

What is the relationship between the sample size and the response rate?

A larger sample size may yield a higher overall response rate when adjusted for nonresponse.

What is an example of a matrix question structure?

Rating statements such as 'SCS’s promote drug use' on a scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree.

What should be considered about the wording of survey questions?

It should be clear and not overly direct to avoid bias.