Event Title
Perception of Common and Uncommon Crimes on a College Campus
Faculty Advisor
M.L. Klotz
Start Date
25-4-2017 4:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2017 5:00 PM
Description
This study examined the differences between crime typicality and seriousness ratings for offenses on college campuses. Participants were 74 undergraduate students at a private, liberal arts university. Eight scenarios describing various offenses were created, four of which were common on campus, and four that were not common. The typical scenarios included: underage drinking, use of marijuana, use of false identification, and plagiarism. Scenarios that were not common on campus included: stalking, burglary, use of prescription drugs, and vandalism. Participants rated each scenario on a 7-point Likert scale based on seriousness, how wrong the crime was, and typicality. Gender and personality differences, with a focus on entitlement, was also taken into consideration. Results found that perception can mainly be affected by gender, past involvement in similar crimes, graduation year, entitlement, and typicality.
Perception of Common and Uncommon Crimes on a College Campus
This study examined the differences between crime typicality and seriousness ratings for offenses on college campuses. Participants were 74 undergraduate students at a private, liberal arts university. Eight scenarios describing various offenses were created, four of which were common on campus, and four that were not common. The typical scenarios included: underage drinking, use of marijuana, use of false identification, and plagiarism. Scenarios that were not common on campus included: stalking, burglary, use of prescription drugs, and vandalism. Participants rated each scenario on a 7-point Likert scale based on seriousness, how wrong the crime was, and typicality. Gender and personality differences, with a focus on entitlement, was also taken into consideration. Results found that perception can mainly be affected by gender, past involvement in similar crimes, graduation year, entitlement, and typicality.