NCJ Number
59767
Journal
International Annals of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 1 & 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 83-99
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AMONG A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE TOTAL POPULATION TO INVESTIGATE FEAR OF CRIME.
Abstract
IN ADDITION TO QUESTIONS RELATING TO DIFFERENT 'CLASSICAL' AND 'MODERN' CRIMES, OPPORTUNITIES WERE GIVEN TO THOSE PERSONS SURVEYED TO MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT THEIR OVERALL FEAR OF CRIME AND THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIME AMONG GERMAN PEOPLE. THE RESULTS SHOWED, WHEN COMPARED TO AMERICAN STATISTICS, THAT GERMANS ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME AS A NATIONAL PROBLEM BUT FEEL LESS WORRIED ABOUT IT PERSONALLY: THE FEAR OF VICTIMIZATION IS LOW IN GERMANY IN COMPARISON TO THE U.S.; AND RESPONDENTS FROM RURAL AREAS IDENTIFIED CRIME AS A PROBLEM SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FREQUENTLY THAN OTHER RESPONDENTS. HOWEVER, STUDY FOUND THAT THE LARGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESPONSES WAS DEPENDENT ON THE DIRECTION AND QUALITY OF QUESTIONS, THEREBY ILLUSTRATING FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS IN CONDUCTING SAMPLE POLLS. WHENEVER PEOPLE WERE ASKED FOR THEIR EVERYDAY WORRIES OR GENERAL NATIONAL PROBLEMS, CRIME DID NOT BOTHER THEM VERY MUCH. THUS, PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CRIME AS IS SUGGESTED BY TRADITIONAL SURVEYING AND REPORTED BY THE MASS MEDIA MIGHT BE MORE THE RESULT OF THE METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE SURVEY THAN OF THE REAL EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM BY THE PEOPLE.THE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN TO METHODOLOGICAL RESEARCH BY THIS KIND OF SURVEYING ON ONE HAND, AND THE DANGERS IN REGARD TO CRIMINAL POLICY ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE OBVIOUS. REFERENCES AND TABLES OF DATA ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)