Question 1

Which of the following is an innovation in victimization surveys?

Accepted Answer

A)   Asking respondents about crimes instead of behaviors experienced.
B)   Reducing the number of victimization types.
C)   Including high-risk populations.
D)   Asking behaviorally specific questions about sensitive types of crimes, such as rape.
E)   A and BF)  C and D F

Question 2

Victimization surveys are used to collect information on issues surrounding criminal victimization and produce data that examine its correlates and test theories.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Which of the following is a strength of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)?

Accepted Answer

A)   A nationally representative dataset is not publicly available.
B)   NIBRS only includes crimes unknown to law enforcement.
C)   The submission system minimizes errors and variations.
D)   Participation in the system is voluntary. C

Question 4

Data collected by official sources (i.e., UCR, NIBRIS) can differ from that collected by victimization surveys (i.e., NCVS, NISVS). Briefly describe some of the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of data sources.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Data collected by official sources (i.e., UCR,...

Question 5

Which of the following were changes made to the NCVS during the survey redesign?

Accepted Answer

A)   The addition of new types of victimization, such as domestic violence.
B)   Questions reflecting lifestyle and routine activity behaviors.
C)   Exclusive use of in-person interviews through the panel.
D)   Including members of the armed services and institutionalized persons (e.g., inmates) .
E)   A and BF)  A and D

Question 6

Which of the following countries had the highest crime rates, according to the European Crime and Safety Survey?

Accepted Answer

A)   Denmark and Belgium.
B)   India and France.
C)   Estonia and Ireland.
D)   The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
E)   B and C.F)  A, C, and D.

Question 7

What are the challenges in estimating and understanding victimization worldwide? Use examples from the international victimization surveys included in Chapter 4 to support your arguments.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the challenges in estimating and...

Question 8

Specialized victimization surveys are conducted because _____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Criminal offenders are excluded from general victimization surveys.
B)   Not every victimization survey includes questions on every type of victimization.
C)   Some individuals refuse to participate in general surveys.
D)   Individuals are paid to participate in general surveys and this is unethical.

Question 9

Which of the following is a limitation of the UCR?

Accepted Answer

A)   It does not illuminate the "dark figure" of crime.
B)   Participation by law enforcement is voluntary.
C)   It uses the hierarchy rule for counting multiple offenses.
D)   Recording of incidents is not standardized across locales.
E)   All of the above are limitations of the UCR.

Question 10

Does a valid and reliable estimate of [specific type of crime] victimization exist in the United States or worldwide? Use examples from the various surveys to illustrate your points.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does a valid and reliable estimate of...

Question 11

Which of the following is a strength of the Uniform Crime Report (UCR)?

Accepted Answer

A)   Crime rates are based on both reported and unreported crimes.
B)   Crime rates cannot be compared with those in other countries.
C)   Crime rates can be compared across cities, counties, and states.
D)   Police reports are not standardized across the country.
E)   B and CF)  B and D

Question 12

Perpetual challenges in conducting victimization research involve (1) ___________ and (2) ____________ criminal victimization.

Accepted Answer

A)   Defining; measuring.
B)   Observing; estimating.
C)   Compiling; reporting.
D)   Understanding; preventing.
E)   None of the above.

Question 13

Which is the best definition of the "dark figure" of crime?

Accepted Answer

A)   Crimes that are not prosecuted.
B)   Criminal reports that have been misfiled by law enforcement personnel.
C)   Crimes that have been falsely reported by people trying to take advantage of the criminal justice system.
D)   Crimes that do not come to the attention of the criminal justice system.
E)   None of the above.

Question 14

Summarize the methodology of the NCVS. In doing so, describe how the sample is chosen, how the survey is designed, and how it is administered.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize the methodology of the NCVS. In...

Question 15

Why are official data not ideal for answering research questions in victimology?

Accepted Answer

A)   Reports do not include offenders' demographic characteristics.
B)   They tend to provide more information about offenders and offending.
C)   Many people who are claiming to be victims are filing false reports.
D)   Criminals do not corroborate the police reports.

Question 16

The British Crime Survey (BCS) was designed to achieve which of the following objectives?

Accepted Answer

A)   Produce victimization estimates.
B)   Measure fear of criminal victimization.
C)   Measure contact with the police.
D)   Identify risk factors for victimization.
E)   All of the above are part of the BCS design.

Question 17

What are measurement weaknesses in the current NCVS? If you could, how would you address these weaknesses? Provide examples of your improvements and explain how they would provide more accurate estimates of criminal victimization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are measurement weaknesses in the current...

Question 18

Which of the following is true about specialized crime victimization surveys?

Accepted Answer

A)   They allow researchers to compare crime rates across several countries.
B)   They estimate how many reported crimes result in criminal prosecution.
C)   They are concerned with certain types of victimization or populations of victims not well represented in general victimization surveys.
D)   They concentrate on all types of victimization and on offenders currently serving time in jail.

Question 19

Define the "dark figure of crime." Compare and contrast two types of victimization (e.g., sexual assault and robbery) and explain why they have different contributions to the "dark figure of crime."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define the "dark figure of crime." Compare...

Question 20

Official sources of crime data rely on _________; general victimization surveys rely on ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Statements of offenders; police reports.
B)   Reported crimes; reported and unreported crime incidents.
C)   Qualitative data provided by inmates; prosecutors' charging decisions.
D)   Detectives' investigation techniques; patient surveys.

Exam 4: Sources of Victimization Data