Skip to main content
Log in

Exploring the consequences of erratic data reporting for cross-national research on homicide

  • Published:
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper examines the common practice in cross-national research on homicide of using crime estimates for a multiyear period based on a smaller number of years than theoretically desired because of erratic data reporting for selected nations. Correlations between hypothetical baseline rates and various alternative estimates are examined to simulate the potential consequences of using temporally incomplete data rather than data for the full multiyear period of interest. The results reveal that this common practice is likely to be highly acceptable for certain national samples but less acceptable for others. The paper concludes with suggestions for dealing with potentially problematic cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Archer, D., and Gartner, R. (1984).Violence and Crime in Cross-National Perspective, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Avison, W. R., and Loring, P. L. (1986). Population diversity and cross-national homicide: The effects of inequality and heterogeneity.Criminology 24: 733–749.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blau, J. R., and Blau, P. M. (1982). The cost of inequality: Metropolitan structure and violent crime.Am. Sociol. Rev. 47: 114–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, J. (1979).Inequality, Crime, and Public Policy, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, J., and Braithwaite, V. (1980). The effect of income inequality and social democracy on homicide.Br. J. Criminol. 20: 45–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clinard, M. B., and Abbott, D. (1973).Crime in Developing Countries, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conklin, G. H., and Simpson, M. E. (1985). A demographic approach to the cross-nationa! study of homicide,Comp. Soc. Res. 8: 171–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1964).The Division of Labor in Society, Free Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1966).Suicide, Free Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engels, F. (1968).The Condition of the Working Class in England, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiala, R., and LaFree, G. (1988). Cross-national determinants of child homicide.Am. Sociol. Rev. 53: 432–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gartner, R. (1990). The victims of homicide: A temporal and cross-national comparison.Am. Sociol. Rev. 55: 92–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gartner, R., Baker, K., and Pampel, F. C. (1990). Gender stratification and the gender gap in homicide victimization.Soc. Problems 37: 593–612.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, A. W., and Ratti, J. S. (1979).Finite Mathematics with Applications, Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansmann, H. B., and Quigley, J. M. (1982). Population heterogeneity and the sociogenesis of homicide.Soc. Forces 61: 206–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huggins, M. (1985). Approaches to crime and societal development. In Tomasson, R. F. (ed.),Comparative Social Research, Vol. 8, JAI Press, Greenwich, CT, pp. 17–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Criminal Police Organization (1979–1988).International Crime Statistics, Interpol, Saint Cloud, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kick, E. L., and LaFree, G. D. (1985). Development and the social context of murder and theft.Comp. Soc. Res. 8: 37–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, M. L. (1987). Cross-national research as an analytic strategy.Am. Sociol. Rev. 53: 713–731.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krahn, H., Hartnagel, T. F., and Gartrell, J. W. (1986). Income inequality and homicide rates: Cross-national data and criminological theories.Criminology 24: 269–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krohn, M. D. (1976). Inequality, unemployment and crime: A cross-national analysis.Sociol. Q. 17: 303–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krohn, M. D., and Wellford, C. F. (1977). A static and dynamic analysis of crime and the primary dimensions of nations.Int. J. Criminol. Penol. 5: 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaFree, G. D., and Kick, E. L. (1986). Cross-national effects of developmental, distributional, and demographic variables on crime: A review and analysis.Int. Ann. Criminol. 24: 213–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, L. (1976).The Sociology of Law and Order, Westview Press, Boulder, CO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Messner, S. F. (1982). Societal development, social equality, and homicide: A cross-national test of a Durkheimian model.Soc. Forces 61: 225–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Messner, S. F. (1988). Research on cultural and socioeconomic factors in criminal violence.Psychiat. Clin. No. Am. 11: 511–525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Messner, S. F. (1989). Economic discrimination and societal homicide rates: Further evidence on the cost of inequality.Am. Sociol. Rev. 54: 597–611.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W. L., and Berger, R. J. (1988). Competing perspectives on cross-national crime: An evaluation of theory and evidence.Sociol. Q. 29: 281–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. (1966).Societies: Evolutionary and Comparative Perspectives, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shichor, D. (1990). Crime patterns and socioeconomic development: A cross-national analysis.Crime Just. Rev. 15: 64–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skogan, W. G. (1984). Reporting crimes to the police: The status of world research.J. Res. Crime Delinq. 21: 113–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toby, J. (1979). Societal evolution and criminality: A Parsonian view.Soc. Problems 26: 386–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigderhous, G. (1978). Methodological problems confronting cross-cultural criminological research using official data.Hum. Relat. 31: 229–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellford, C. F. (1974). Crime and the dimensions of nations.Int. J. Criminol. Penol. 2: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins, L. T. (1980). World crime: To measure or not to measure? In Newman, G. (ed.),Crime and Deviance: A Comparative Perspective, Sage, Beverly Hills, CA, pp. 17–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, P. (1971). Crime and development: An international comparison of crime rates.Scand. Stud. Criminol. 3: 107–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1980–1988).World Health Statistics Annual, World Health Organization, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Messner, S.F. Exploring the consequences of erratic data reporting for cross-national research on homicide. J Quant Criminol 8, 155–173 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066742

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066742

Key words

Navigation