Crime and Deviance

Question 1

In what ways can crime be measured? (3)

Answer 1

Police recorded statistics
Victim surveys
Self-report

Question 2

What is the dark figure of crime?

Answer 2

Hidden figure of crime which means statistics can not be valid and not trusted. These are the crimes that go unreported or unrecorded. E.g: rape and violence

Question 3

Why are people less likely to report a crime? (3)

Answer 3

Might not believe the victim
Embarrassment
May not trust the police

Question 4

Why are people more likely to report a crime? (3)

Answer 4

Have clear evidence
Benefit (insurance claim)
Faith to achieve positive result

Question 5

What are the strengths of police recorded statistics? (3)

Answer 5

Anonymous - no ethical issues
Secondary data is easier to access
Statistics for the whole country - a large range

Question 6

What are limitations of police recorded statistics? (3)

Answer 6

Not all crime is recorded even if reported
Cuffing done by police to reduce the amount of crime so it’s not representative
May not valid since there is opportunity for manipulation and fiddling.

Question 7

What are the strengths of victim surveys? (3)

Answer 7

Makes up for the dark figure of crime that goes unreported
More reliable because they will be comfortable
No imposition of police bias

Question 8

What are the limitations of victim surveys? (3)

Answer 8

May not be valid, people may lie or not be able to remember
Lack representation because they only go to 40,000 residents
People still under report sexual offences

Question 9

What are the strengths of self reports? (2)

Answer 9

Might reveal dark figure of crime
Nature of victimless crime

Question 10

What are the limitations of self reports? (4)

Answer 10

Lie and exaggerate which affects validity
Uncovers trivial minor crimes
They’re anonymous so you can’t trace it.
These studies are mostly on young people