Guardianship in the online world

One of the key factors in deterring criminals according to the Routine Activity Theory (RAT) is guardianship. Guardianship is the presence of one or more people who can potentially stop a crime. With guardians present, crime is less likely. When a guardian is present, it has been shown over and over again that crime is less likely. However, the relationship between guardianship and online crime – where a guardian is not physically present – is less well understood. How people can act as guardians online, what factors stimulate them to do so and how successful they are in deterring or intervening in crime needs to be understood.

In this thesis project you will help study in which we will study guardianship in the online world. The focus of the study will be determined in the first meeting, and can include for example online crime types in which guardianship is likely most successful or what factors enable people to behave as online guardians. Your own input is highly appreciated, and you will be able to help determine the direction of the study.

Guardianship, deterrence, cybercrime, online world

Example research questions include:

1. Can guardianship take place online?
2. What factors enable people to act as guardians online?
3. How effective are online guardians?
4. Which type of crime are online guardians most likely to stop or intervene in?

Research questions may be changed based on the student’s interests.

Most likely methods are an only study/in-person experiments, quantitative research.

The quantitative data of this study will be analysed by data analysis programmes such as R. If qualitative data emerges, this will be analysed via data-analyisis progammes such as Atlas.Ti.

Please contact Marleen Haandrikman (m.j.m.haandrikman@utwente.nl) when you are interested in this assignment. The assignment is open to 2 students. 

• Hollis-Peel, M. E., Reynald, D. M., Van Bavel, M., Elffers, H., & Welsh, B. C. (2011). Guardianship for crime prevention: A critical review of the literature. Crime, law and social change, 56(1), 53-70.
• Nagin, D. S., Herman, S., & Barnum, T. C. (2023). Collective Guardianship, Reactive and Proactive. Crime and Justice, 52(1), 487-523.
• Reynald, D. M. (2019). Guardianship in the digital age. Criminal Justice Review, 44(1), 11-24.
• van Sintemaartensdijk, I., Frerichs, S., Friehs, M. A., & de Vries, P. W. (2026). Dynamic defence: dynamic guardianship for enhanced neighbourhood security. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 1-30.