Bottom up approach

Question 1

What is the bottom up approach?

Answer 1

British, data drive approach based off statistical data and psychological theories to identify the offender

Question 2

Who is the main researcher in the bottom up aproach?

Answer 2

Canter

Question 3

What is the difference between the top down approach and the bottom up approach

Answer 3

TD - begins with preconceived ideas about the criminal and then tries to fit the evidence to that profile

BU - begins with data collection and then generates a profile

Question 4

What are the two types of offender profile in regards to the bottom up approach?

Answer 4

• Investigative psychology
  when crimes are committed, data is gathered and compared
• Geographical profiling
  Uses information o linked crime scenes to make inferences about likely home of offender

Question 5

What is the 3 approaches to investigative psychology in the bottom up approach?

Answer 5

• Forensic awareness
• Interpersonal
• Space/ time

Question 6

What is the circle theory of the bottom up? Who proposed it?

Answer 6

Theory that states that offenders carry out crime within a geographical circle, proposed by Canter & Larkin

It predicts that the offender’s home is likely to be within this circle

Question 7

What are the two ways to describe offenders in regards to the circle theory of the bottom up approach?

Answer 7

1. Marauder
2. Commuter

Question 8

What is a strength of the bottom up approach?

Answer 8

+ Scientific
+ Supporting evidence for investigative psychology (Canter, Railway rapist, John Duffy)
+ Can be applied to all crime unlike the top down approach

Question 9

What is a weakness to the bottom up approach?

Answer 9

Conflicting evidence for effectiveness (Copson) - surveyed 184 UK, reported 83% said = useful, 3% identification of offender