An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical Characteristics
Debates in urban social research indicate that one of the most significant problems facing cities of the global south is the dilemma of crime. This study explores the research question: what is the level of influence of economic deprivation and residential mobility weights on criminal activities wit...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/6/3/43 |
| _version_ | 1797481732292739072 |
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| author | Christopher Chimaobi Onyeneke Aly H. Karam |
| author_facet | Christopher Chimaobi Onyeneke Aly H. Karam |
| author_sort | Christopher Chimaobi Onyeneke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Debates in urban social research indicate that one of the most significant problems facing cities of the global south is the dilemma of crime. This study explores the research question: what is the level of influence of economic deprivation and residential mobility weights on criminal activities within vulnerable neighborhoods in urban centres? This research focuses on the urban social structural theory of social disorganization, to investigate how socioeconomic, demographic, and physical characteristics affect criminal behaviour. The study adopted a qualitative research approach that is cross-sectional. With the use of volunteer self-selection sampling techniques, in-depth interviews were conducted with heads of households via a semi-structured interview guide. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study found that sociological factors such as economic deprivation and socioeconomic inequality lead to the gradual integration of delinquency in cities. The findings of this research build on the existing theory of social disorganization. To ensure safety, residents’ economic status must be standardized by supporting the provision of more regulated informal sector opportunities and activities for active engagement in supervising and controlling youth behaviour. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f167d560df1b469c87426243baf1f722 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-f167d560df1b469c87426243baf1f7222023-11-23T19:19:26ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512022-06-01634310.3390/urbansci6030043An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical CharacteristicsChristopher Chimaobi Onyeneke0Aly H. Karam1School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaSchool of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaDebates in urban social research indicate that one of the most significant problems facing cities of the global south is the dilemma of crime. This study explores the research question: what is the level of influence of economic deprivation and residential mobility weights on criminal activities within vulnerable neighborhoods in urban centres? This research focuses on the urban social structural theory of social disorganization, to investigate how socioeconomic, demographic, and physical characteristics affect criminal behaviour. The study adopted a qualitative research approach that is cross-sectional. With the use of volunteer self-selection sampling techniques, in-depth interviews were conducted with heads of households via a semi-structured interview guide. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study found that sociological factors such as economic deprivation and socioeconomic inequality lead to the gradual integration of delinquency in cities. The findings of this research build on the existing theory of social disorganization. To ensure safety, residents’ economic status must be standardized by supporting the provision of more regulated informal sector opportunities and activities for active engagement in supervising and controlling youth behaviour.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/6/3/43social disorganizationsocioeconomic inequalityvulnerabilityunemployment |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Chimaobi Onyeneke Aly H. Karam An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical Characteristics Urban Science social disorganization socioeconomic inequality vulnerability unemployment |
| title | An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical Characteristics |
| title_full | An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical Characteristics |
| title_fullStr | An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical Characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical Characteristics |
| title_short | An Exploratory Study of Crime: Examining Lived Experiences of Crime through Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Physical Characteristics |
| title_sort | exploratory study of crime examining lived experiences of crime through socioeconomic demographic and physical characteristics |
| topic | social disorganization socioeconomic inequality vulnerability unemployment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/6/3/43 |
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