ASSIGNMENT
Guardianship is the presence of one or more people who can potentially stop a crime. It has been a key factor in deterring criminals. The definition of guardianship however has been subject of change, and thus greatly varied. With technology coming into the mix it creates new challenges to understand what guardianship is: when you do not see anyone but you do see cameras is someone watching you and are you thus exposed to guardianship? As guardianship is vital to deter criminals it is necessary that we know what guardianship can consist of and how we can make sure that guardianship is present in for example neighbourhoods to deter burglars.
In this internship you will help set-up a new research project to help define guardianship and to test whether this new definition would be viable in scientific research. The internship student has to be willing to do extensive literature research, collaborate to construct a new questionnaire aimed at discouragement towards crime, and start the testing of this novel questionnaire. You will have a lot of freedom in this internship to set-up research and your own contribution to this study is valued and highly appreciated.
KEYWORDS
Guardianship; crime prevention; literature research; testing questionnaire.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ORGANIZATION
The section Psychology of Conflict, Risk and Safety at the University of Twente has a distinctive and unique profile in the areas of risk perception and risk communication, conflict and crisis management and the antecedents of risky, antisocial and criminal behaviour. It currently includes 16 research staff members and 8 PhD students. We work from both a psychology and an engineering perspective and cooperate with other scientific disciplines, based on the “high tech, human touch” profile of the University of Twente.
AVAILABILITY
Usually anytime. This internship is open for 1 student.
INTERESTED?
Please contact the internship coordinator Miriam Oostinga (m.s.d.oostinga@utwente.nl).
LITERATURE
- Reynald, D. M. (2009). Guardianship in action: Developing a new tool for measurement. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 11(1), 1-20.
- Van Sintemaartensdijk, I., Van Gelder, J. L., Van Prooijen, J. W., Nee, C., Otte, M., & Van Lange, P. (2021). Mere presence of informal guardians deters burglars: A virtual reality study. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 17(4), 657-676.