Official Crime Data and Self-Reported Data

Official crime data rely on second-hand information in measuring crimes, while self-reported data is dependable on first-hand information. Official crime data is obtained from normal operations of the criminal justice system. The researchers access information that has been used in previous crimes in determining the extent of crime at hand. In self-reported data, the information is obtained from the respondents. The researchers acquire original information from the respondents to determine the degree of the crime. Official crime data focuses mainly on serious crimes, while self-reported data is concerned with all crimes. Official crime data pays attention to seven significant crimes, commonly referred to as part one offenses. Apart from taking into account these major part one offenses, self-reported data also addresses part two offenses.

The strengths of official crime data include affordability, accessibility, and reliability. The information required is already available and affordable to the researcher. Official data last over a long period and can be accessed by many researchers over time (Kirk, 2006). Official crime data is reliable since it is believed to be gathered by qualified personnel. However, its weaknesses are that it is highly dynamic as it changes with time, and specific researchers can access it. The strengths of self-reported data include reliability, undistorted, and valuable (Thornberry & Krohn, 2003). This information is directly obtained from respondents and does pass through many people that may temper with it. Researchers depend on it as it is original. The weaknesses of self-reported data include response biasness and reflective ability. These limitations will make the respondents answer questions the way they desire, thus compromising the credibility of self-reported data.

Reference

Kirk, S. D. (2006). Examining the Divergence Across Self-report and OfficialData Sources on Inferences About the AdolescentLife-course of Crime. J Quant Criminol, 22 , 107-129. DOI 10.1007/s10940-006-9004-0.