Summary
"This publication presents the results of three studies on crime and neighbourhood characteristics.
Study # 1 examines crime and socio-economic status in Ottawa at the level of the dissemination
area (DA), the smallest geographic unit for which census data is available. The working
hypothesis for Study # 1 is that there is a positive relationship between crime and disadvantaged
communities in Ottawa.
Study # 2 employs data for neighbourhoods in Saskatoon (geographic units significantly larger
than DAs) to examine the relationship between crime, socio-economic status and segregation in
the city. Specifically, the study addresses the following research question: What are the
predominant social and environmental characteristics that have an impact on crime in
Saskatoon’s neighbourhoods and how can the identification of suitable predictors of crime lead
to public policy initiatives aimed at alleviating community crime and reducing levels of
victimization?
Finally, Study # 3 re-aggregates Ottawa’s DA level data to match the boundaries of the city’s
neighbourhoods. This new dataset is then re-analyzed and compared directly to the findings of
the Saskatoon neighbourhood study, allowing a more meaningful comparison of the two cities.
The effect of a change in the level of geography on the relationship between crime and
neighbourhood characteristics is examined and discussed."--Page 7.
Contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Social and geographic aspects of crime: a review of theory and literature -- 3. The social geographies of Ottawa and Saskatoon and overall trends in crime -- 4. Sources of data -- Study # 1. Ottawa dissemination areas -- Study # 2. Saskatoon neighbourhoods -- Study # 3. A comparison of nighbourhoods in Ottawa and Saskatoon -- 5. Methods Of analysis -- 5.1. Plan of analysis -- 5.2. Statistical and geographic methods of analysis -- 6. Study # 1 findings: dissemination areas of Ottawa -- 6.1. Descriptive statistics -- 6.2. Principal components analysis -- 6.3. Multiple regression -- 6.4. Cartographic and GIS analysis: examining spatial patterns of crime and disadvantage -- 6.5. Discussion -- 7. Study # 2 findings: neighbourhoods of Saskatoon -- 7.1. Descriptive statistics -- 7.2. Principal components analysis -- 7.3. Multiple regression analysis -- 7.4. Mapping and GIS analysis: identifying spatial patterns of crime and neighbourhood characteristics -- 7.5. Spatial autocorrelation -- 7.6. Characteristics of high crime areas -- 7.7. Summary of findings and policy issues for Saskatoon --
8. Study # 3 findings: a comparison of neighbourhoods in Ottawa and Saskatoon --
8.1. Principal components analysis --
8.2. Multiple regression analysis --
8.3. Geographic patterns of crime in Ottawa and Saskatoon’s
neighbourhoods --
8.4. Discussion --
9. Summary --
10. References.