Examining experiential fear of crime using STUNDA: Findings from a smartphone-based experience methods study

Abstract

Situational data have become more frequently used in research on offending and victimization. However, one outcome that has received less attention is fear of crime. The current study uses situational data collected through a smartphone application (STUNDA) to examine fear of crime as it is experienced in daily life among a sample of university students. Roughly 1200 situations reported by 129 students were analysed using generalized estimating equations. The results indicate that experiential fear of crime, in the form of worrying about victimization, is related to features of the immediate settings. More specifically, the odds ratio for experiencing fear of crime is significantly higher in places away from home and after dark, whereas social activities are associated with a significantly lower odds ratio, net of individual-level controls (gender, age, previous victimization and fear propensity). Yet, fear propensity, measured here using items that refer to an individual’s general worry about victimization, has an independent significant effect on fear of crime. As a result of the study’s convenience sample, the generalizability of the findings is limited, but a more general theoretical conclusion can nonetheless be drawn; features of settings and individual characteristics are both of importance. Further, the use of experience methods via a smartphone application provided detailed and unique situational data, which suggests that future research should further employ these methods to study situational phenomena such as fear of crime.

Psychological distance and fear of crime: Towards a new understanding of risk perception formation

“…Future research may wish to consider using an item that asks participants whether they believe that they will fall victim to crime in their current location to avoid manipulating spatial distance while retaining the egocentric point of reference. This is also in line with previous fear of crime research, which asks participants to estimate their risk of becoming a victim of crime in their immediate environment (Chataway et al, 2017; Chataway & Mellberg, 2021; Engström & Kronkvist, 2021; Irvin-Erickson et al, 2020; Solymosi et al, 2015).…”

“…It is unclear why this is the case, given previous fear of crime research has identified the importance of perceptions of space and place for influencing individual's worry about crime and risk perception (Chataway & Mellberg, 2021;Irvin-Erickson et al, 2020;Solymosi et al, 2015). Scholars such as Chataway et al, (2017) and Engström and Kronkvist (2021) have used surveys delivered via smartphones to ask participants about their level of worry about and perceived risk of becoming a victim of crime in their current location. By asking participants to respond to questions about their perceived risk of becoming a victim of crime in their immediate environment, Chataway et al, (2017) and others have found that individuals' perceptions of their immediate environment are ecologically valid predictors of their worry about crime (Engström & Kronkvist, 2021;Irvin-Erickson et al, 2020).…”

“…Scholars such as Chataway et al, (2017) and Engström and Kronkvist (2021) have used surveys delivered via smartphones to ask participants about their level of worry about and perceived risk of becoming a victim of crime in their current location. By asking participants to respond to questions about their perceived risk of becoming a victim of crime in their immediate environment, Chataway et al, (2017) and others have found that individuals' perceptions of their immediate environment are ecologically valid predictors of their worry about crime (Engström & Kronkvist, 2021;Irvin-Erickson et al, 2020). Subsequently, the finding in the current study may be attributed to the broad wording used for spatial distance items.…”

“…The ad hoc theoretical models testing the incivilities hypothesis have demonstrated that perceptions of the immediate environment are an important component for informing individuals’ perceptions of risk and worry about crime (Franklin et al, 2008; McCrea et al, 2005). This has informed contemporary fear of crime research which asks participants about their immediate environment using momentary data collection methods (e.g., Engström & Kronkvist, 2021; Irvin-Erickson et al, 2020). However, the explanation for why perceiving incivilities in the immediate environment affects risk perception and its relationship with worry is limited to post hoc speculation and further hypotheses.…”

Exploring Situational Fear of Crime

“…Using a convenience sample of roughly 200 students, the project has proven two main points. First, fear of crime varies across different contexts in our daily lives, suggesting that fear appears to be a fairly dynamic phenomenon (Engström & Kronkvist, 2021). Second, it is both possible and feasible to employ alternative methodological approaches to study this dynamic form of fear of crime (Kronkvist & Engström, 2020).…”