Defining and Measuring Fear of Crime: A New Validated Scale Created from Emotion Theory, Qualitative Interviews, and Factor Analyses

Abstract

Objective: to develop a new justified scale of fear of crime, based on the theory of constructed emotion, qualitative interviews and factor analysis.Methods: dialectical approach to cognition of social phenomena, using the general scientific and specific scientific methods of cognition, based on it.Results: Fear of crime researchers have long debated how to best define and measure fear of crime. There is disagreement about the definition of fear of crime, which has led to inconsistent measurement. Our goal was to develop a new fear of crime scale using a theory of emotion and rigorous methodology. Scale development involved five major stages: in-depth interviews to understand how people describe their fear of crime, qualitative analysis to develop questionnaire items, pretesting, factor analyses, and psychometric validation. Qualitative interviews (N = 29) revealed that people use words like “fear”, “worry”, and “concern” interchangeably. After qualitative analysis led to an initial item pool, factor analyses yielded a 10-item, onefactor scale. Quantitative analyses (N = 665) revealed standardized factor loadings between 0.715 and 0.888, an internal consistency of a = 0.945, and convergent and divergent validity. Our new measure will allow greater precision when researching fear of crime.Scientific novelty: this study introduced the theory of constructed emotion to the study of fear of crime. The wide range of interviewees’ descriptions of their fear of crime is consistent with the theory of constructed emotion. Many interviewees conflated fear, worry, concern, and other emotion words, which illustrates the concept of emotional granularity. When someone uses words like “fear” and “concern” interchangeably, it suggests that that person’s experience of those emotions is the same in that context. The theory of constructed emotion posits that emotions are subjective and depend on the present context, someone’s previous experiences, and their understanding and use of emotion words. According to qualitative interviews, fear of crime encompasses many feelings including concern, unpleasant affect, worry, anxiety, paranoia, and panic. These findings will allow future research to further build theory on fear of crime.Practical significance: the main provisions and conclusions of the article can be used in scientific, pedagogical and law enforcement activities when considering the issues related to the levels of fear of crime.The article was first published in English language by Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law & Society and The Western Society of Criminology Hosting by Scholastica. For more information please contact: CCJLS@WesternCriminology.org.For original publication: Etopio, Au. L., Berthelot, E. R. (2022). Defining and Measuring Fear of Crime: A New Validated Scale Created from Emotion Theory, Qualitative Interviews, and Factor Analyses. Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law & Society, 23 (1), 46–67. Publication URL: https://ccjls.scholasticahq.com/article/34104-defining-and-measuring-fear-of-crime-a-new-validated-scale-createdfrom-emotion-theory-qualitative-interviews-and-factor-analyses