Description
You have the power to stop a crime, by exerting guardianship. Guardianship is the presence of one or more people who can potentially stop a crime and is a key factor in deterring criminals. 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? 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.
We know however so little about guardianship, as there has been a lack experimental research on its impact on crime. Understanding when guardianship takes place, how criminals respond to guardianship and how we can foster guardianship are vital to prevent crime. In this project, you will be able to set-up a study on guardianship, in which the choices are (1) a study in which we will manipulate guardianship measures to see if people notice them (for example cameras vs. self-closing blinds), (2) a study in which we will see if people are more likely to intervene when they think the neighbourhood they live in expects this, (3) a study where we manipulate information people receive about crime, and if this leads them to be more (or less) likely to act as guardians out of fear. Own input into the study is highly appreciated.
Research question
Exact research questions will be determined based on student interests after discussion. Example research questions include:
1. Do people notice guardianship measures? If so is this consciously or subconsciously?
2. Do people intervene as guardians because they feel social pressure? How does this interact with individual differences?
3. Are people more likely act as guardians when they receive information about crime that makes them believe they are capable of dealing with this crime?
TYPE of research
Most likely methods are (in-person)experiments, quantitative research.
KEY words
Guardianship; fear of crime; behaviour change; intervening
Literature
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.
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.
Van Sintemaartensdijk, I., Van Gelder, J. L., Van Prooijen, J. W., Nee, C., Otte, M., & van Lange, P. (2022). Assessing the deterrent effect of symbolic guardianship through neighbourhood watch signs and police signs: a virtual reality study. Psychology, Crime & Law, 1-21.
Information
This project is open to 2 students.
Are you interested in this topic for your thesis? Please contact the theme coordinator Lynn Weiher: l.weiher@utwente.nl