self report studies Flashcards
(12 cards)
What are self-report studies?
Surveys where individuals admit to crimes they have committed, usually anonymously.
What is the aim of self-report studies?
To uncover hidden or underreported offending, especially among young people.
What type of crimes are often revealed by self-reports?
Minor and occasional offences like drug use, vandalism, underage drinking.
Give one example of a self-report study in the UK.
The Youth Lifestyles Survey.
What is one strength of self-report studies?
They can show social patterns in offending (e.g., class, gender, ethnicity) not reflected in police data.
What is a key weakness of self-report studies?
Respondents may lie, exaggerate, or underreport their behavior.
Why is comparability a problem with self-reports?
Studies often use different definitions, questions, or samples, making results hard to compare over time.
What ethical issue is common in self-report studies?
Confidentiality—researchers must protect participant identity due to admission of crimes.
Graham and Bowling (1995)
- Found that white and black respondents had similar self-reported offending, challenging police data suggesting higher black criminality.
- Young people often under police scrutiny not because they offend more, but due to bias in law enforcement.
Becker (1963), Cicourel (1968):
Interactionism / Labelling Theory
Self-reports expose the gap between actual deviance and official records, showing how labelling and selective enforcement distort stats.
Validity & Reflexivity – Interpretivist Views
Interpretivists question the validity of both victim and self-report data, but often prefer qualitative self-reports for exploring motives and meanings behind deviance.
Box (1983)
Marxist Critique
Self-report studies show working-class youths are overrepresented in official stats, but corporate crimes by elites are rarely self-reported or surveyed.
