Research Proposal - Crime and the Built Environment

This research proposal aims to understand the link between crime and the built environment and how environmental design can be used to reduce crime rates. It includes a literature review, research aims and objectives, research questions, methodology, and ethical considerations.

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL – CRIME AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Research Proposal – Crime and the Built Environment
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
1. Title of the Research...........................................................................................................3
2. Abstract...............................................................................................................................3
3. Background to the Research Study.....................................................................................3
3.1. Research Aims and Objectives....................................................................................4
3.2. Research Questions.....................................................................................................4
2. Literature Review...................................................................................................................5
2.1. Role of Risk Terrain Modelling in Prevention of Crime in Residential Neighborhoods5
2.2. Impact of Green Space on Crime and Violence in Residential Neighborhoods.............5
2.3. Crime Interventions, Built Environment and Improvement of Health of Residents.......6
2.4. Relationship between Crime and Community Design....................................................7
2.5. Built Environment of Neighborhoods and Residential Crimes.......................................7
4. Gaps in the Literature Reviewed........................................................................................8
5. Methodology.......................................................................................................................8
5.1. Research Methods.......................................................................................................8
5.2. Data Collection............................................................................................................8
5.3. Size of the Research Population..................................................................................9
5.4. Sampling Techniques..................................................................................................9
5.5. Research Timeline.......................................................................................................9
6. Ethical Considerations........................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................11

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1. Title of the Research
The Link between the Crime and Built Environment and the methods of reducing the
crime through urban design
2. Abstract
Crime is on the rise in Australia, and while law enforcement authorities are doing their
utmost to reduce crime rates, the occurrence of criminal activities is still very common in
most Australian cities and towns. One of the most effective ways by which crime can be
prevented in today’s day and age is through the implementation of what is termed as
environmental design. This is a method by which crime is reduced through designing as well
as manipulating a built environment. This assignment prepares a research proposal on the
subject of the link between crime and the built environment, with the aim of understanding
how the built environment can be used to bring about a reduction in crime rates. The research
proposal outlines the aims and objectives of the research, provides an analysis of the
academic literature reviewed on crime and the built environment, mentions the methods of
data collection that are to be used for doing the research and also states the ethical factors that
will be taken into consideration at the time of implementing the research proposal.
3. Background to the Research Study
Crime in Australia has increased significantly in the years between 2008 and 2017.
The management of crime is entrusted with the law enforcement bodies in the country that
includes local councils and the federal as well as state based police forces. Apart from jails,
Australia has detention centers that are meant for housing dangerous criminals. The onset of
crime in Australia has led to alarm and anxiety among people residing in residential
neighborhoods in particular, and several ways and means are being considered for the

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reduction of crime in the country, apart from regular patrolling of neighborhoods and open
spaces by the police forces. A novel form of addressing crime and bringing about reduction
of crime is the use of the built environment. Crime prevention through designing and
manipulating the built environment is a method that makes use of opportunity crime theories.
What crime prevention through environmental design, known also as CPTED does is that it
blocks all existing opportunities for a person to engage in any kind of criminal behavior using
subtle techniques that maximize informal surveillance, maintenance, guardianship, in order to
minimize crime through movement, and to also establish physical security standards that are
entirely proportion to the risk of crime. This research aims at studying specifically the link
that exists between crime and the built environment in order to arrive at an understanding of
the ways and means by which environmental design can be used to reduce crime rates by a
considerable extent.
3.1. Research Aims and Objectives
The aims and objectives of the research study are as follows –
 To understand the connection that exists between crime and the built environment
 To understand how prevention of crime can take place through the implementation of
environmental design
 To provide recommendations on how the efforts of environmental design
implementation can be complemented to reduce the occurrence of crime completely
3.2. Research Questions
RQ 1 – What is the connection between crime and the built environment?
RQ2 – How can crime be prevented using environmental design?

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RQ3 – What are the measures that can be taken to support the efforts of environmental
design in reducing crime rates?
2. Literature Review
2.1. Role of Risk Terrain Modelling in Prevention of Crime in Residential
Neighborhoods
Drawve et al. (2015), have conducted research on the role that risk terrain modelling
can play in reducing crime in residential neighborhoods. According to the authors risk terrain
modeling is a technique that was used for developing the aggregate neighborhood risks of
crime measures. In the view of Drawve et al. (2015), the aggregate neighborhood risk of
crime measures can be regarded as a significant predictor of the violent crime rates in a
neighborhood with control measures remaining quite significant in analysis when the
aggregate neighborhood risk of crime measures are examined. Fourteen risk factors were
identified by Draweve et al. (2015), that are likely to influence the occurrence of violent
crimes. An RTM was constructed on violent crimes that took place in the year of 2013 in
Little Rock in the American state of Arkansas the crime risk per cell was then averaged per
neighborhood thus developing an ANORC measure. This measure was then used to predict
violent crime rates in the same neighborhood in the year of 2014. What was discovered by
the researches is that the aggregate neighborhood risk of crime measure increases
significantly what is understood as variation when it comes to violent crime rates in a
neighborhood. The regression analysis that was developed during the research indicated that
all of the three measures could significantly predict violent crime rates in the neighborhood of
Little Rock in Arkansas.

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2.2. Impact of Green Space on Crime and Violence in Residential Neighborhoods
Bogar and Beyer (2015), have conducted research to determine the evidence of
relationships that are seen to exist among violence, crime and urban green space in the United
States of America. A number of important bibliographic databases were examined to arrive at
studies that meet the inclusion criteria. A number of additional studies were also culled from
the study references and the personal collections of authors. It was seen by the researches that
comparisons among the studies was greatly limited by the variations that were seen to be
prevalent in study design while the measurement as well as the results were mixed. More
evidence however supports the notion that green space has a positive impact on crime and
violence which in turn indicates that green space has excellent potential to shape and promote
a healthy, safe and secure environment. What Bogar and Beyer (2015), conclude from the
research findings is that there are many factors that influence the relationships among crime,
violence and green space. Additional standardization and research among research studies is
required in their view, in order to be able to understand such relationships better.
2.3. Crime Interventions, Built Environment and Improvement of Health of
Residents
Marzbali et al. (2015), have conducted on the effectiveness associated with
interventions that are carried out in built environments for the purpose of improving health
through addressing the fear of crime. According to Marzbali et al. (2015), street permeability
is something that affects the health and the wellbeing of residents. They argue that social
cohesion acts as a mediator in the relationship between health and permeability. In the view
of Marzbali et al. (2015), high permeability is something that is associated with high levels of
crime and fear. They further argue that social cohesion enhances the optimism regarding the
health of an individual. The research was conducted on 279 residential households and the
findings of the research revealed that permeability accounts for a large proportion of the

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variance that is seen in the wellbeing and the health of residents. It is suggested through this
study that the design of a street network for instance has an impact on the manner in which
the people in the neighborhood interact with one another and which consequently affects their
health as well. Marzbali et al. (2015), conclude through this research study that residents who
live in areas where the street outlets are highly permeable are likely to have higher perceived
fears of crime as well as social cohesion which in turn impacts their health in a negative way,
compared to the health of the people who are living in neighborhoods where the streets are
relatively less permeable.
2.4. Relationship between Crime and Community Design
MacDonald (2015), has carried out research specifically on the relationship that exists
between crime and community design. The research assesses the impact that housing as well
as the built environment can have on the occurrence of crime. According to MacDonald
(2015), crime is something that is influenced quite significantly by the built environment. He
argues that the designs of streets and houses, zoning, public transit locations, as well as the
use of land is something that shapes the built environment in certain ways that can either be
seen to reduce crime or to increase crime. He goes onto to argue that changes in street
configurations and zoning, the design and configuration of housing and convenient access to
public transit are factors that can go a long way in facilitating the successful management of
crime. He argues that modifications can be made to the built environment for the purpose of
both reducing crime as well as the reliance on sanctions of criminal justice. MacDonald
(2015), concludes that place based experiments which manipulate features of built
environment can provide evidence that policy makers can put to use in order to design cities
in a manner that will help to bring about a reduction in crime.

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2.5. Built Environment of Neighborhoods and Residential Crimes
Dong Wook Sohn (2015), has carried out research on the subject of neighborhood
built environment and residential crimes. The research assesses the effectiveness of CPTED
or crime prevention through environmental design. In the view of Dong Wook Sohn (2015),
diversity in terms of land use is something that is seen to have quite a negative impact on
preventing residential crime. Dong Wook Sohn (2015), argues that bringing about an
improvement in street connectivity through the construction of more intersections in street
networks is something that is capable of increasing residential crime by a considerable
degree. It is also argued by the author that neighborhood designs that create a walkable
environment can be regarded as effective means by which safety can be enhanced.
4. Gaps in the Literature Reviewed
Although the literature that has been reviewed above points to the relationship between
crime and urban design, more information and perspectives are needed to arrive at an
understanding of how environmental design or urban design can be used to reduce crime over
the long term, in the most effective way. The literature that has been reviewed also dwells on
how built environment increases crime rates in certain neighborhoods with little or no
mention being made of the supporting measures that can be taken to complement the work
being done by the built environment to reduce crime.
5. Methodology
5.1. Research Methods
This research will be carried out using qualitative research methods, both primary as
well as secondary.

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5.2. Data Collection
The data collection that will be done to arrive at the answers to the research questions
will involve conducting focus group discussions and in depth personal interviews with the
sample research population. Apart from the focus group discussions and the in depth personal
interviews, the research will also engage in the review of secondary sources of literature such
as peer reviewed journal articles, books and edited volumes to gain an understand of the ways
by which crime and the built environment are inter connected and how the built environment,
specifically urban design can be implemented to reduce crime rates.
5.3. Size of the Research Population
The research study will rely on the use of a convenient and random sample due to
there being little time and resources to carry out the study. The sample size will be limited to
50 people, with 25 of them being residents of neighborhoods where the crime rates are low
and 25 of them being residents of neighborhoods where the crime rates are high.
Additionally, the research will also interview law enforcement authorities to arrive at an
understanding of what perspectives they may have on the subject of crime and urban design.
5.4. Sampling Techniques
The research will make use of newspaper articles, information provided by municipal
councils and also the internet in order to determine the sample population that will be studied.
5.5. Research Timeline
The research will be carried out over a period of three to six months. The first three
months will be devoted to the review of secondary literature while the next three months will
involve doing primary research.

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6. Ethical Considerations
A number of ethical factors will be taken into consideration for doing the research
 The research will involve voluntary participation only. None of the respondents
will be forced to answer the interview questions or take part in the focus group
discussions if they do not want to.
 Efforts will be made not to ask questions that are uncomfortable for the
respondents to answer. If the respondents are not happy about the questions that
are being asked, then they have the freedom to opt out of the interviews.
 The focus group discussions and interviews will take place at a time that is
convenient for the sample research population. The appointments for the
interviews will be made well in advance as will be the scheduling of the focus
group discussions.
 The information that is revealed by the people who are involved in the interview
process is something that will be kept as confidential as possible. None of the data
that is provided will be revealed to other sources later on. It will be kept strictly
confidential and private.
 The anonymity of the respondents is also something that will be made in the
course of doing the research. The respondents when referred to in the research
study will be referred to using fake names or as anonymously as possible so that
their identity is well protected.
 Care will be taken to ensure that the respondents or participants in the research
process are provided with all the information that they need to know what exactly
the research is about and why it is being conducted. The purpose of the research
will be made known to them clearly, both verbally as well as through the use of
written materials.

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References
Sohn, D. W. (2016). Residential crimes and neighbourhood built environment: Assessing the
effectiveness of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). Cities, 52, 86-93.
MacDonald, J. (2015). Community design and crime: the impact of housing and the built
environment. Crime and justice, 44(1), 333-383.
Marzbali, M. H., Abdullah, A., & Tilaki, M. J. M. (2016). The effectiveness of interventions in the built
environment for improving health by addressing fear of crime. International Journal of Law, Crime and
Justice, 45, 120-140.
Bogar, S., & Beyer, K. M. (2016). Green space, violence, and crime: A systematic review. Trauma,
Violence, & Abuse, 17(2), 160-171.
Drawve, G., Thomas, S. A., & Walker, J. T. (2016). Bringing the physical environment back into
neighborhood research: The utility of RTM for developing an aggregate neighborhood risk of crime
measure. Journal of Criminal Justice, 44, 21-29