The hedgehog and the fox; the history of victimisation surveys from a Trans-Atlantic perspective

Jan van Dijk

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterScientificpeer-review

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    Abstract

    In his PhD thesis defended at the University of Versailles on November 12,
    2014, Matthieu de Castelbajac traces back the early history of victimisation
    surveys in the USA and Europe with a focus on the National Crime Victims
    Surveys in the USA (starting in 1973), the Dutch Victimisation Survey
    (1973), the British Crime Survey (1982) and The International Crime Victims
    Survey (1988) (Castelbajac 2014). The present chapter is largely based on
    this study, supplemented by additions considerations regarding the Dutch survey
    and the ICVS. Firstly, we will try to understand why the American studies
    in the early 1970s developed into the first ever full-fledged survey, whereas
    earlier, similar attempts in Scandinavia did not get off the ground. What explains
    this change of fortune of crime surveys? Next we will analyse in some
    detail the original ideas behind the American survey and how these have
    shaped the National Crime Victim Survey (NCVS) ever since. In the third
    paragraph we will discuss the different trajectory of the first victimisation surveys
    in Europe and how these have meandered into many different directions
    over the years. Finally, we will reflect on the foiled plans of the European
    Commission for an EU wide comparative survey.
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    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationViktimisierungsbefragungen in Deutschland, Band 1, Ziele, Nutzen und Forschung
    EditorsNathalie Guzy, Christoph Birkel, Robert Mischkowitz
    Place of PublicationWiesbaden
    PublisherBKA
    Pages10-29
    Number of pages19
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

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