This article has been written by Nitika Malik, pursuing a Diploma in Advanced Contract Drafting, Negotiation and Dispute Resolution and has been edited by Oishika Banerji (Team Lawsikho).
It has been published by Rachit Garg.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The study of both crime and the criminal justice system is the emphasis of criminology. Criminality, delinquency, and victimisation are the main topics of criminological research. The criminal justice system as a whole, particularly the elements of the police, courts, and corrections, is another crucial area of concentration. There are many ways to study criminology because there are so many different topics that are examined. The fact that there is no one, ideal method for analysing crime and the criminal justice system in all of its varied manifestations must be emphasised. According to this discussion, the approach employed should be the one that is most appropriate for the subject under investigation.
What do you mean by quantitative criminology
Quantitative criminology is the systematic study of phenomena by collecting quantifiable data and employing statistical, mathematical, or computer methods. Quantitative criminology gathers data from present and potential clients by employing sample techniques and distributing online surveys, polls, questionnaires, and other types of data collection. The results of these data collection techniques can then be statistically represented. By completely understanding these figures, you can predict the future of a good or service and make the appropriate adjustments.
The statistical methods used to gather quantitative data from the study endeavour are frequently used in quantitative outcome research in the social sciences. Researchers and statisticians use mathematical frameworks and notions related to the quantity being studied in this method of study. The traits of quantitative research templates include being thorough, unbiased, and occasionally exploratory. Results from this study methodology are precise, statistically sound, and objective.
In its broadest sense, criminology is the study of criminal behaviour. According to this perspective, Cesare Beccaria’s 1764 research on torture and the death penalty is one of the earliest examples of criminology. Beccaria made substantial contributions to philosophy that have a big impact on criminology. One of the earliest modern research initiatives, Suicide, which used quantitative approaches in the field of criminology, was inspired by the renowned sociologist Émile Durkheim. For the first time, quantitative data, including suicide rates for diverse groups, was presented in this book, which was published in 1897. It has never been done previously to apply quantitative approaches in criminology study.
By examining the enormous influx of immigrants to the city around 1915, scientists at the University of Chicago discovered this phenomenon for the first time in the United States. So, it provided a perfect environment for empirical research examining the criminal propensity theory. For this study, they gathered data and statistics from previously reported convictions, the immediate environment, and interpersonal contacts. British criminology served as a foundation for many social scientists’ theories on criminal behaviour in the United States. Karl Marx, Cesare Lombroso, Jeremy Bentham, and Émile Durkheim were early criminologists. In the late nineteenth century, sociology’s theories were absorbed into the study of criminology, which had a broader scope.
Criminology : an idea
The study of crime, criminals, criminal behaviour, and corrections is a more current and complete definition of criminology. Compared to a term from the late 1800s, this one has gained more traction in the dictionary. Criminology has been practised in a largely consistent manner as a science over time. It’s unlikely that the theories and methodologies employed in criminology research have altered all that much. In criminology, quantitative methodology is still often employed, and data gathering and analysis methods are still very much in use now as they were when the field originally came into being.
Comparatively, qualitative approaches rely on an individual’s subjective interpretation of the facts, whereas quantitative methods use the numerical findings of quantitative research as the basis for their analysis. Due to the probability of bias in qualitative research, quantitative methodologies are used in the study of criminology. Many situations, though, cannot be quantitatively explored. Personal judgements and discussions are significantly influenced by emotion as opposed to scientific study. But the difficulty of quantitative research supports its application.
Social scientists now quantify crime using a range of variables. We must first define crime in order to begin tracking it. A clear definition of a crime is provided by Wilson and Herrnstein: “any act committed in violation of a law that forbids it and prescribes punishment for its commission.” We can begin measuring crime if we have a clear understanding of what it is.
Methods for obtaining quantitative information on crime
The four most common methods for obtaining quantitative information on crime are direct observation, victimisation reports, surveys of offenders, and the use of previously gathered information.
It is not via observation that the extent of crime is best determined. The idea that not all crimes are adequately recorded is supported by the fact that police learn about crimes either by observing them or by having them reported to them. Think about shoplifting as an example. It happens often that shoplifting is not reported to the police or other authorities. Crimes like theft and drug trafficking won’t be adequately considered as a result.
Asking someone if they have ever been a victim of criminal activity is a useful technique to acquire information. This type of research typically employs a survey. Finding information that hasn’t been reported to the authorities, finding about crimes that police have already looked into but haven’t documented, and providing details on the perpetrators, their victims, and their offences are all things that surveying can be valuable for. The NCVS, or National Crime Victimisation Study, is a noteworthy illustration of this. Because it provides more details on particular victims, perpetrators, and episodes, the NCVS is a better tool for analysing the impact of individual variables in studies of crime victimisation.
Although these are for the perpetrators rather than the victims, surveys of criminals are used. It’s customary to conduct surveys to determine how many offences a person has committed. Candidates for this type of research include prostitution, crimes concerning public safety and delinquency, and rarely discussed crimes like stealing. The information gathered from these surveys is crucial, despite the fact that conducting surveys has significant downsides, such as the potential for dishonest or inflated responses from respondents.
Benefits of the method
Given how challenging it is to measure crime, it is generally desirable to use a variety of approaches to obtain the most accurate data. The benefits of this tactic include:
1. Reproduction – The study can be repeated thanks to clearly specified data gathering methods and concrete descriptions of abstract notions.
2. Direct comparability of results – The study can be repeated in many cultural settings, at various times, and with various populations. Statistics can be used to compare the outcomes.
3. Numerous samples – Using dependable and consistent methods, quantitative data analysis can be utilised to handle and analyse data from huge samples.
4. Validating theories – You must properly analyse and describe your study variables, predictions, data collection techniques, and testing procedures utilising outlined and established protocol for testing hypotheses before drawing any conclusions.
Disadvantage of the method
The disadvantages of this tactic include:
1. Flawlessness – Using precise and constrained operational definitions may result in the insufficient representation of complex ideas. For instance, the notion of mood might be articulated more fully in qualitative research than in quantitative research, which might only use a single number to represent the concept.
2. Concentrate on one thing – If you employ predetermined variables and measurement techniques, you risk missing other important observations.
3. The structure is biassed – Standardised procedures can nevertheless fail to prevent structured biases from harming quantitative research. Faulty results may be the result of biases including missing data, inaccurate measurements, or poor sample techniques.
4. A context-free environment – Quantitative research typically takes place in artificial settings, such laboratories, or ignores cultural and historical contexts that can affect the data collection and interpretation.
Crime statistics are at the centre of both social science research in general and quantitative criminology in particular. To understand, characterise, and explain crime and criminality, many sources of crime data have been proposed in recent years, but few of these sources have actually been tested using a significant sample of crimes and various multivariate techniques. A thorough examination and comparison of different sources of crime data is crucial if present analytical methods are to be used effectively and if new, more powerful approaches are to be created.
Different methods of criminology
The methods which are generally used by criminologists include the following:
- Survey method,
- Case study method, and
- Statistical method in studying criminal behaviour.
- Occasionally, experimental methods are also used.
Survey method
In this method, facts are collected by means of framing questions for a larger number of people who are placed under scientific controls. There are majorly three tools which are put to use in the survey method of criminology, namely, the questionnaire, schedule and interview guide. It is ideal to note that a survey can be either a qualitative or a quantitative method or can also be mixed of both.
Case study method
The case study method is a method by means of which social phenomenon is studied with the help of intensive and detailed analysis of an individual case. Cases may range from a juvenile delinquent to that of youth criminals, an institution, etc. This method opens room for a detailed analysis of several minute details that are generally overlooked in other methods. This is where the case study method can be said to be surpassed by the quantitative methodology.
Statistical method
The statistical method is another method of criminology that makes room for simplifying complex data into smaller measurement units. This helps the researcher in completing the research work at a speedier rate so that the purpose is achieved to reduce a complex mass of data to simple units of measurement.
Experimental method
The experimental method is another type of method used in criminology that is generally carried out by physical scientists and is therefore not a preferable way of usage in cases of social sciences as it is difficult to achieve control.
Conclusion
The most recent scientific and technical advancements are now being integrated with criminology. Our journey into the future is only beginning, and how effectively our laws can adapt to reflect the times will determine how far we can go. Criminologists should work with our legislators to draft new legislation because they are prepared for the future and adaptable enough to deal with shifting conditions. It is anticipated that a number of recent breakthroughs would prepare Indian criminology for the future. By cutting-edge innovations, the study of criminology can evolve and develop into a philosophy that can support the country’s equitable framework on all fronts.
Sources
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