VICTIMOLOGICAL RESEARCH July 19, 2011 THE 11TH ASIAN POSTGRADUATE COURSE ON VICTIMOLOGY AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE

1. Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance VICTIMOLOGICAL RESEARCHJuly 19, 2011THE 11TH ASIAN POSTGRADUATE COURSE ON VICTIMOLOGY AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi California State University, Fresno

2. Victimological Research • Empirical—Production of knowledge based on experience or observation • No assumptions or thoughts • Scientific—Scientists have certain criteria to be met • An assertion must have both logical and empirical support Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

3. Why Victimological Research?1. Exploration • Explore the nature or frequency of a problem or policy • Might also collect data on some measure to serve as a baseline for later comparisons • Also appropriate when some type of policy change is being considered Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

4. Why Victimological Research?2. Description • Describe the scope of a problem or policy response • Make more accurate and formal observations • Develop a preliminary understanding • Following exploration, we want to know the problem’s frequency/prevalence/degree Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

5. Why Victimological Research?3. Explanation • Explain things—answer “Why?” • Why have we seen a certain change in scope? • Why does a certain problem exist? • Example: Why do victims of domestic violence not leave the abusive husband? Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

6. The Cycle Theory of Violence Tension building Acute explosion Honeymoon Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

7. Why Victimological Research?4. Application • Applied research is based on a need for specific facts and findings—with implications for policy • Two major types of applied research: • Evaluation research—comparing program goals to results • Policy analysis—prospective; anticipate future consequences of alternative actions Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

8. Research Methods Identifying a research problem Reviewing the literature Identifying a purpose and stating questions Views of knowledge Assumptions Collecting data Analyzing and interpreting data Reporting and evaluating the study Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

9. How to Design a Research Project • Beginning points for a line of research • e.g., interests, ideas, theories, new programs • Why does something occur? • Why is this how it is? • What about this possible program? • These questions may lead to others you might like to explore Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

10. Getting Started • Find out what research has been done • Read newspaper stories, journal articles, check out the Internet, talk to relevant people • Figure out your objective and intended audience • Generally, your purpose for undertaking research can be expressed in a report Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

11. Conceptualization • What do you mean by the concept being studied? • If you are going to study fear of violent crime in your community • What is considered “violent crime”? • What is considered “fear”? • You need to specify ALL the concepts that you wish to study Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

12. Choice of Research Method • A variety of methods are available, each with strengths and weaknesses; choose one after considering the specific concept you want to study • Interviews, surveys, field research, content analysis, official records • The best studies utilize more than one research method Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

13. Zimbardo Experiment (1971) • Stanford prison experiment • A study of the psychological effects of becoming a prisoner or a prison guard • 24 undergraduate students played a role • The prison environment was created in the basement and the experiment continued for 6 days

14. Operationalization • Create concrete ways of actually measuring your concept • Fear and violent crime: • Questionnaire item: “How safe do you feel in your house, downtown at night, etc.?” • Official records of violent crime incidents in that neighborhood, downtown, etc. Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

15. Population and Sampling • Exactly who or what will you study? • Population—group (e.g., of people) about whom we want to be able to draw conclusions • Because it is generally not feasible to study ALL members of that population, how will you take a representative sample? • Fear and violent crime: will you include the elderly? Teenagers and kids? A particular raceor gender? Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

16. Observations • Collect the empirical data • Qualitative • Non-numerical data • Established through observation and interviews • Open-ended questions, Interview data • Text and image analysis • Quantitative • Numerical data • Based on data obtained from measurements, survey findings and scales Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

17. Application • Utilize the research you’ve conducted and the conclusions you’ve reached • Make your findings known to others • Develop policy to address your findings • Determine what mistakes were made that could be corrected in the future • Determine how your research might feed into future research Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

18. Official Data vs. Survey Data • Official Data • Crime reported to police • Uniform Crime Report in the United States • Victimization Survey Data • International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS) • U.S. National Crime Victimization Survey • Include unreported crime Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

19. Why Victimization Surveys Are Performed • To describe more precisely the reality of victimization and victim characteristics • Relationship • Frequency • Severity • Dark Figure • Reported crime minus unreported crime Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

20. Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

21. Validity and Reliability Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance • Validity • Measurement approximates a true value • Reliability • Consistency of your measurement

22. The scale reads 1.2 pounds too high when empty, which makes all measurements1.2 pounds too high Validity problem The baby’s motion introduces random errors Reliability problem Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

23. Association NOT Causation • Ice cream consumption and the crime rate are associated with each other • Ice cream consumption does not create crime nor does crime create ice cream consumption

24. Program Evaluation • Answer the question: Is your program successful? • Improve your program • Discover unintended side effects • Provide program accountability Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

25. The Logic of a Well-Designed Program Do measures reflect program goals? Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

26. Goals • General statements that summarize the ultimate impact that the social program is supposed to have on client problems • Example: • You are going to create a shelter program for abused women. • Goal: Women who complete the program will have increased their ability to protect themselves and their children Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

27. Objectives • Fit within the scope of stated goals. • Immediate, practical effects that you want your services to have on the problem. • Realistic and attainable • Measurable and specific • Example: 90% of the women who completed our program will be able to name four or more safety resources available to them in their community. Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

28. Linking the Process to Evaluation • Process evaluation • Are policies being implemented as planned? • Impact assessment • Are policies/programs achieving their intended goals? • Often conducted together Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance

29. Thank you for your participation. Q & A Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi The 11th Asian Postgraduate Course on Victimology and Victim Assistance