Testing for seasonality in reported crime data

Lee R. McPheters; William B. Stronge

doi:10.1016/0047-2352(73)90093-7

Testing for seasonality in reported crime data

Lee R. McPheters, William B. Stronge

Arizona State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

In spite of the apparent importance of crime statistics to policy-makers and the public, these data are not often analyzed or refined in the same manner as other social series such as unemployment. In this paper, seasonal variation in FBI index crimes is investigated for a major urban area. Using Miami data for 1949-1970, a test for seasonality is developed and seasonal indices are constructed for a number of crime types. A definite seasonal pattern in Miami crime data is found to exist, although its importance seems to be declining in recent years. Some applications of seasonally adjusted data to public information and operations are also briefly discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	125-134
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Criminal Justice
Volume	1
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2352(73)90093-7
State	Published - 1973

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Applied Psychology
Sociology and Political Science
Law

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/0047-2352(73)90093-7

Cite this

@article{42cf3e572961453585c1c47fab720c16,

title = "Testing for seasonality in reported crime data",

abstract = "In spite of the apparent importance of crime statistics to policy-makers and the public, these data are not often analyzed or refined in the same manner as other social series such as unemployment. In this paper, seasonal variation in FBI index crimes is investigated for a major urban area. Using Miami data for 1949-1970, a test for seasonality is developed and seasonal indices are constructed for a number of crime types. A definite seasonal pattern in Miami crime data is found to exist, although its importance seems to be declining in recent years. Some applications of seasonally adjusted data to public information and operations are also briefly discussed.",

author = "McPheters, {Lee R.} and Stronge, {William B.}",

note = "Funding Information: {\textquoteleft}An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Joint National Meetings of the Operations Research. Society of America, the Institute of Management Sciences, and the Systems Engineering Group of the American Institute of Industrial Engineering in Atlantic City, 1972. We received many helpful comments and suggestions from participants. The authors wish to acknowledge the competent research and programming assistance of Mr. C. F. Baum. Partial support for this study was provided through a grant from the Florida Atlantic University-Florida International University Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems. The conclusions represent those of the authors, who are also responsible for any errors.",

year = "1973",

doi = "10.1016/0047-2352(73)90093-7",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "125--134",

journal = "Journal of Criminal Justice",

issn = "0047-2352",

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T1 - Testing for seasonality in reported crime data

AU - McPheters, Lee R.

AU - Stronge, William B.

N1 - Funding Information: ‘An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Joint National Meetings of the Operations Research. Society of America, the Institute of Management Sciences, and the Systems Engineering Group of the American Institute of Industrial Engineering in Atlantic City, 1972. We received many helpful comments and suggestions from participants. The authors wish to acknowledge the competent research and programming assistance of Mr. C. F. Baum. Partial support for this study was provided through a grant from the Florida Atlantic University-Florida International University Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems. The conclusions represent those of the authors, who are also responsible for any errors.

PY - 1973

Y1 - 1973

N2 - In spite of the apparent importance of crime statistics to policy-makers and the public, these data are not often analyzed or refined in the same manner as other social series such as unemployment. In this paper, seasonal variation in FBI index crimes is investigated for a major urban area. Using Miami data for 1949-1970, a test for seasonality is developed and seasonal indices are constructed for a number of crime types. A definite seasonal pattern in Miami crime data is found to exist, although its importance seems to be declining in recent years. Some applications of seasonally adjusted data to public information and operations are also briefly discussed.

AB - In spite of the apparent importance of crime statistics to policy-makers and the public, these data are not often analyzed or refined in the same manner as other social series such as unemployment. In this paper, seasonal variation in FBI index crimes is investigated for a major urban area. Using Miami data for 1949-1970, a test for seasonality is developed and seasonal indices are constructed for a number of crime types. A definite seasonal pattern in Miami crime data is found to exist, although its importance seems to be declining in recent years. Some applications of seasonally adjusted data to public information and operations are also briefly discussed.

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JO - Journal of Criminal Justice

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SN - 0047-2352

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Testing for seasonality in reported crime data

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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