Hate Crime Research: Design and Measurement Strategies for Improving Causal Inference. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Green, Donald P.; Spry, Amber D.
• Other Names: King Ryan D. guest-editor.; Messner Steven F. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of contemporary criminal justice. Volume 30:Number 3(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: hate crime -- causal inference -- research design; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.973
• DOI: 10.1177/1043986214536662
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-9862

Abstract

The credibility revolution in the social sciences has placed new emphasis on research designs that provide strong evidence of cause and effect. The next generation of hate crime research must move in this design-based direction. This essay reviews recent examples of experiments and quasi-experiments in criminology, political science, and economics that provide useful design templates for hate crime researchers. At the same time, we caution that advances in design must also be accompanied by advances in measurement if researchers are to gauge the long-term effects of interventions designed to reduce the risk of hate crime.