Crime & Delinquency: “Schools, Neighborhood Risk Factors, and Crime.” By Dale, Willits, Lisa Broidy, and Kristine Denman.

Their research question is: Do schools contribute to neighborhood crime rates? The data types they used were demographic data, organizational data, and deeply held opinions and attitudes. The data collection methods they used were in depth interviews and public and private records. They came together find if schools contribute to the crime rates in neighborhoods. They were not funded and did everything themselves. They conducted three slightly different hypotheses and found research to be not very convincing. They found that higher level block groups meaning those with either a high or low disadvantaged and instability situation had higher crime rates than those categorized with a lower block level. Their results supported a few different conclusions but the main one is that is somewhat supported their first hypothesis meaning that schools have some influence on crime rates in neighborhoods.

As they also said in their conclusion, this study lacked control in opinions. There has been very few studies previously on this question which leave a decent room for error. Their hypotheses’ were only partially supported which does not look good in my opinion. For the one or two classmates of mine that are doing something related to crime, I think this is something to look into if examining influence on crime rates or causes.