Interpreting Fear, Crime, Risk, and Unsafety: Conceptualisation and Measurement

This book will be of value to those interested in the history, concept, and measurement of what has been called 'fear of crime'. Not only does this book criticize the current state of affairs, but it gives alternatives for the status quo as well-a recipe for the valid and reliable measurement of this fear of crime. Both the conceptualization and the operationalization are discussed extensively. The book analyzes the three core concepts to the fear of crime-risk, victimization, and fear-and examines a wide variety of interpretations, reflected in developed measurement instruments. These different instruments result from two strategies. The first is based on the traditional indicators of fear of crime and leads to measurement instruments of the five most important constructs. The second strategy enables the measurement of a concept's meaning as well as one's attitude regarding crime and safety. Both strategies are incorporated in the advice and guidelines on how fear of crime is to be measured in the form of general dos and don'ts.