Crime Location Choice Study

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METHODOLOGY:

DISCRETE SPATIAL CHOICE MODELS

Researchers tested the hypotheses by using discrete choice models. The models were used to test why a decision maker chooses a specific single alternative from a distinct number of alternatives given the characteristics of the alternatives and the characteristics of the decision maker. In crime location choice studies, the decision maker is the offender, the alternatives from which the offender has to choose are distinct spatial entities, and the choice faced by the offender is where to perpetrate a crime. Discrete choice models often follow the random utility maximization assumptions and are statistically tested with a conditional logit model.

Researchers used discrete spatial choice models to …show more content…

For this reason, the current and former residential areas of the offenders were included in the analyses as control variables. Researchers constructed current, former, and never residential area of the offender, similar to the family-related residential area variables. In the model that tests for gender differences, current and former residential areas of offenders were combined with an individual dummy variable, current and former residential areas of an …show more content…

Areas with little criminal opportunity are therefore less likely to be targeted. Areas that contain facilities that attract people, such as retail stores, bars, and schools, are expected to generate or attract crime as such areas contain both possible targets and opportunities, as well as potential offenders. Areas with lower levels of guardianship are also more opportunities to target. Several indicators of such crime attractors and generators and of guardianship are included in this study as control

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