Addressing methodological limitations of behavioural fear mapping: a campus-based study

Abstract

The effective measurement of fear of crime presents an ongoing problem for researchers. Debate continues regarding the best measurement and methodological approach to investigating fear of crime and its impacts upon day to day lives of individuals and communities. Behavioural fear mapping presents an encouraging methodological approach to measuring fear of crime, by incorporating spatiotemporal dimensions neglected by other approaches. While promising, behavioural fear mapping as a methodology has a number of hitherto unexamined components undermining its effectiveness. Investigation into the effects of base maps upon sketch mapping outputs, the potential difference in spatial avoidance of subgroups within the same population, and the possible benefits of a retrospective qualitative assessment of fear mapping outputs with community members have not been previously explored. These three components form the focus of this thesis. Drawing upon behavioural geography, this thesis investigates base map influence, subgroup avoidance and the benefits of community assessments of fear mapping outputs through the case study of the Australian National University (ANU) campus and its students. From a fear mapping survey, sketch maps were collected and digitised through ArcGIS. Once aggregated, the patterns of collective avoidance were compared qualitatively to assess base map and subgroup influence. These maps were then presented to focus groups of community members in order to perform a retrospective qualitative assessment. The benefits of running this qualitative assessment was also evaluated. The results indicate that base maps had very little impact upon the recording of spatial data, contradicting previous literature. Subgroups displayed very different patterns of collective avoidance and intensity to which hotspots were avoided. The focus groups revealed information unlikely to be obtain through other avenues, assisting management level decision making on future plans for the ANU campus. These insights from participants were integrated with the mapping results to create a complex and detailed picture of fear of crime at the ANU. By addressing the three oversights in previous fear mapping research, the thesis makes contribution strengthening of the behavioural fear mapping methodology and sketch mapping practices. The findings from this thesis directly contribute to the behavioural fear mapping methodology and to the broader fear of crime research field. Show more