Crime and forensic television series as contributors to crime perception

¶ … Image & Problem of Crime

Distinguishing between Fiction and Reality: Perceived Social Images of Crime from Watching TV Crime Genre and the 'Problem of Crime'

Research Question/Hypotheses

Do perceived social images of crime from TV crime genre contribute to the problem of crime?

(1) There is a significant relationship between frequency of crime TV-watching and perceived seriousness of the nature of minor crimes;

(2) There is a significant relationship between frequency of crime TV-watching and perceived seriousness of the nature of major crimes;

(3) There is a significant relationship between frequency of crime TV-watching and personal concern for crime and public safety;

(4) There is a significant relationship between perceived seriousness of the nature of minor crimes and personal concern for crime and public safety;

(5) There is a significant relationship between perceived seriousness of the nature of major crimes and personal concern for crime and public safety;

(6) There is a significant relationship between an individual's socio-demographic profile and perceived seriousness of the nature of minor crimes;

(7) There is a significant relationship between an individual's socio-demographic profile and perceived seriousness of the nature of major crimes; and (8) There is a significant relationship between an individual's socio-demographic profile and personal concern for cime and public safety.

II. Methodology

Research Design

This study will use the quantitative research approaches. This type of design is recommended because of its ability to present data results in aggregate form and to provide representativeness, or a general 'picture' of the social phenomenon or problem that is being studied.

Methodology

A cross-sectional survey is proposed to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, their knowledge about TV programs and shows from the crime and forensic science genere, frequency of watching these TV crime programs, attitudes about the nature of major and minor crimes, and expressed concern about crime and public safety in general.

The survey method will be used in this study to generate what can be considered "quick-read" of the respondents' viewing behavior, attitudes about major and minor crimes, and personal concern about crime and public safety. With this method, it will become possible to examine a small segment of society (or community) and from it, make certain inferences about the population from which the sample was originally taken.

Variables and Measures

Variables under study for this research endeavor will be the following: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, such as age, gender, educational attainment, occupation, and personal annual income; (2) viewing behavior of TV crime programs/shows; (3) perceived social images of the nature of major and minor crimes; and (4) expressed personal concern for crime and public safety.

The table below summarizes the relationship between the variables and measures that will be used for the study:

Variables

Measures

Independent variable:

Perceived social images of the nature of major crimes

Perceived level of seriousness on the following major crimes:

Perceived social images of the nature of major crimes

Perceived level of seriousness on the following minor crimes:

Dependent variables:

Profile/Socio-demographic Characteristics of the respondent

Age

Sex

Educational attainment

Occupation

Personal annual income

Access to mass media

Viewing behavior of TV crime programs

Kind of TV crime programs usually watch

Frequency of watching TV crime programs

Duration of crime TV-watching

Personal concern for crime and public safety

Self-ratings on attitude statements about the respondent's level of concern about issues concerning crime and public safety

Units of Analysis

Primary units of analysis will be the students and staff members in the Hong Kong University (HKU). There will be no restrictions on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondent; HKU membership as a student or staff is the main consideration, as a result of logistical constraints on the part of the researcher.