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Article 1: Fox, K. A., Lane, J., & Akers, R. L. (2010). Understanding gang membership and crime victimization among jail inmates: Testing the effects of self-control. Crime & Delinquency, 59(5), 764–787.

Abstract: Although previous research has examined factors related to gang membership and offending, research on the relationship between gangs and victimization is limited. The present study builds on previous research and examines gang membership, victimization, and self-control among 2,414 jail inmates. Results from self-report surveys indicate that gang members are more likely than nonmembers to be victimized by property and personal crimes. Among nongang members, those with lower self-control are more likely to be victimized by property and personal crime. Among gang members, lower self-control is associated with personal crime victimization whereas higher self-control is related to property crime victimization. Overall, gang members are victimized more than nongang members, and self-control is an important factor for victimization among gang and nongang members.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. What were the control variables used in the analyses?  
2. What prevented the authors from establishing a causal relationship?
3. What were some limitations of the study that could be remedied to help establish causality?
    

Article 2: Kunst, M.J., Koster, N.N., & Van Heugten, J. (2015). Performance evaluations and victim satisfaction with state compensation for violent crime: A prospective study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. doi:10.1177/0886260515596535

Abstract: Satisfaction with a particular good or service represents an affective state in response to an individual’s evaluation of the performance of that good or service. This evaluation involves a comparison between perceived actual performance and prior expectations. The current study used this theoretical idea to study violent crime victims’ levels of satisfaction with services provided by a Dutch state compensation scheme. One hundred and seventy-seven victims of violent crime who had applied for compensation from the Dutch Violent Offences Compensation Fund (DVOCF) participated in two brief telephone interviews: one before receipt of the fund’s decision upon their request for compensation and one after receipt of that decision. Based on the theories of distributive and procedural justice, measurement of prior expectations was differentiated in expectations about receipt of compensation, treatment by fund workers, and information provision. Results suggested that satisfaction with the DVOCF depended on fulfillment of expectations about treatment by fund workers and information provision, but not on fulfillment of expectations about receipt of compensation. Other predictors of victim satisfaction were as follows: duration of the application procedure, approval upon request for compensation, and satisfaction assessed during the first interview. Results were discussed in light of theory, policy implications, study limitations, and future research.

Questions that apply to this article:

1. Identify three statistically significant variables from the multivariate regression analysis.
2. What was one result that the authors expected to see?
3. Why did the authors perform a two-step analysis?