Experimental Analysis of the Effects of Social Status, Offense Seriousness and Social Audience Characteristics on Sanctioning Severity

• NCJ Number: 88130
• Author(s): D E Krahl
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 240 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: University of Akron - doctoral dissertation

Annotation

This study examines the extent to which the social status of both the offender and victim, as well as the seriousness of the offense, influence the severity of the sanction imposed on an offender for a hypothetical criminal incident.

Abstract

The study used an experimental design and several interrelated statistical techniques. The statistical analyses showed that although the main effects of each of the experimental variables were statistically significant, it was the seriousness of the offense which explained the greatest proportion of variance in punishment severity. Moreover, a significant amount of statistical interaction between the experimental variables was present. The effects of the characteristics of the social audience were only of marginal importance. Tables, footnotes, over 200 references, and study instruments are provided. (Author abstract modified)