gun exercise with gss

CJ 160
SPRING 1999
EXERCISE IN HANDGUN OWNERSHIP
PURPOSES, HYPOTHESES, AND RESULTS

TO: Students in CJ 160
FROM: R. B. Taylor
DATE: 3/24/99
RE: Results of the in-class exercise yesterday

WHAT WE DID
In class yesterday we broke into groups to complete a class exercise on handgun ownership. [click here to see class instructions.] The purpose of this exercise was to think about what might PREDICT handgun ownership. You were given one predictor from the list and asked to think about how scores on that predictor would relate to owning or not owning a handgun. You also were asked to think about the PROCESSES that might lie behind that connection; what dynamics might be operating? What are the factors of individuals or their communities that make this linkage work?

I showed you the distribution on the handgun variable from the General Social Survey (GSS). The GSS is an annual survey completed with a nationally representative sample. About 2000 cases are completed each year. I have added together the survey answers from the years 1972 through 1996 so that there are a large number of self reported handgun owners.

PURPOSE
By thinking about the PREDICTORS of handgun ownership, we get a better understanding of the CONSTRUCT of handgun ownership. This is a complex idea; and we need to better understand it.

The exercise also points up the limitations of a particular research tool -- survey research -- for getting at a problem. This problem is reflected in part in the large amount of missing data. It could be that people did not really know if there were guns in the household. Or it could be that they knew but just did not want to report. We will be talking about alternate ways to get at some of these questions.

RESULTS: HYPOTHESES
I have summarized below what prediction each group made, and their reasoning. I hope the group will elaborate on their discussion when we discuss the results in class.

PEOPLE IN GROUP(s)

PREDICTOR; HYPOTHESES; DYNAMICS

Baker, Almond, Montanez, Godfrey

Age (under / over 27); under 28 is LESS likely to report owning a gun; under 28 more likely use gun for criminal activity so will NOT report it; over 27 more likely to use it for "self defense or other means besides crime" therefore older people will be more likely to report handgun ownership. NOTE: group deals with reporting rather than owning per se.

Rau, McKenrick, DeAntoniis
Boyd, Chinn, Aquilar, Harris

Government doing too much or too little about crime in city; "if government is doing too little to reduce crime in the city, more people become handgun owners; "we thought people would take crime into their own hands ... to protect themselves ... the rise in crime [causes a rise] in fear of crime"
second group similar direction; if govt doing too little "people would feel the need to protect themselves"

Burns, Slinka, Zapiec

Size of City; larger cities report less gun ownership [but may be MORE illegal, not reported gun ownership]; "actual crime, fear of crime ... are greater in a larger city than they are in small cities"

Kirk, Merch, Shanley, Bernard, Garcia

Robbed on street in last year (Y/N); ??? "Being robbed and reporting gun ownership could cause a response in all three categories"

Martin, Lermitte

Gender; "men are more likely than women to own guns; "Society forces men to be proud and aggressive. Violence is more instinctive in men."

Reese, Kristel, Kipp
Slome, Person, Danze, Butler, Cline

(picked up or charged) vs. not; if you are arrested you are more likely to own a handgun; "more likely to be involved in criminal activity" so you own a handgun. SECOND GROUP: those picked up and charged will be LESS likely to report owning a pistol; "wouldn't want to seem more suspicious or guilty"

Breniser, White, Muhaimin, Foreman

African-American vs. other; "African-Americans are more likely to own a pistol because they are more likely to live in urban areas and therefore need pistols for protection."

Zanetich, Meade, Johnson

liberal vs. conservative; "owners more likely to be conservative"; several dynamics (views on crime, right to arm; popular sports such as hunting; desire to feel powerful)

Caimichelo, Franchi, Mitchell, Pollydore
Murphy, Chang, Brautigam, Agnew, Leach

Education; ownership more likely with lower education; lower ed means "likely to live in a higher crime neighborhood, so there is a greater need to own a gun"
second group: same direction; live in dangerous neighborhoods

Warrick, Crockett, Tyrell

Burgled in last year vs. not; if burgled more likely to own; breakin > more fearful, may want to protect children from breakins; may live in high crime locale

RESULTS: DATA
You can see whether or not the national data supported your hypotheses.The names of the people in each group are listed below, and their variable. To see the results for your group click on the right hand box.

PEOPLE IN GROUP

PREDICTOR VARIABLE

Baker, Almond, Montanez, Godfrey

Age (under / over 27)

click

Rau, McKenrick, DeAntoniis
Boyd, Chinn, Aquilar, Harris

Government doing too much or too little about crime

click

Burns, Slinka, Zapiec

Size of City

click

Kirk, Merch, Shanley, Bernard, Garcia

Robbed on street in last year (Y/N)

click

Martin, Lermitte

Gender

click

Reese, Kristel, Kipp
Slome, Person, Danze, Butler, Cline

(picked up or charged) vs. not

click

Breniser, White, Muhaimin, Foreman

African-American vs. other

modified: race and city

click

click

Zanetich, Meade, Johnson

liberal vs. conservative

click

Caimichelo, Franchi, Mitchell, Pollydore
Murphy, Chang, Brautigam, Agnew, Leach

Education
HS ed. vs. less

click

Warrick, Crockett, Tyrell

Burgled in last year vs. not

click

PEOPLE IN GROUP(s)	PREDICTOR; HYPOTHESES; DYNAMICS
Baker, Almond, Montanez, Godfrey	Age (under / over 27); under 28 is LESS likely to report owning a gun; under 28 more likely use gun for criminal activity so will NOT report it; over 27 more likely to use it for "self defense or other means besides crime" therefore older people will be more likely to report handgun ownership. NOTE: group deals with reporting rather than owning per se.
Rau, McKenrick, DeAntoniis Boyd, Chinn, Aquilar, Harris	Government doing too much or too little about crime in city; "if government is doing too little to reduce crime in the city, more people become handgun owners; "we thought people would take crime into their own hands ... to protect themselves ... the rise in crime [causes a rise] in fear of crime" second group similar direction; if govt doing too little "people would feel the need to protect themselves"
Burns, Slinka, Zapiec	Size of City; larger cities report less gun ownership [but may be MORE illegal, not reported gun ownership]; "actual crime, fear of crime ... are greater in a larger city than they are in small cities"
Kirk, Merch, Shanley, Bernard, Garcia	Robbed on street in last year (Y/N); ??? "Being robbed and reporting gun ownership could cause a response in all three categories"
Martin, Lermitte	Gender; "men are more likely than women to own guns; "Society forces men to be proud and aggressive. Violence is more instinctive in men."
Reese, Kristel, Kipp Slome, Person, Danze, Butler, Cline	(picked up or charged) vs. not; if you are arrested you are more likely to own a handgun; "more likely to be involved in criminal activity" so you own a handgun. SECOND GROUP: those picked up and charged will be LESS likely to report owning a pistol; "wouldn't want to seem more suspicious or guilty"
Breniser, White, Muhaimin, Foreman	African-American vs. other; "African-Americans are more likely to own a pistol because they are more likely to live in urban areas and therefore need pistols for protection."
Zanetich, Meade, Johnson	liberal vs. conservative; "owners more likely to be conservative"; several dynamics (views on crime, right to arm; popular sports such as hunting; desire to feel powerful)
Caimichelo, Franchi, Mitchell, Pollydore Murphy, Chang, Brautigam, Agnew, Leach	Education; ownership more likely with lower education; lower ed means "likely to live in a higher crime neighborhood, so there is a greater need to own a gun" second group: same direction; live in dangerous neighborhoods
Warrick, Crockett, Tyrell	Burgled in last year vs. not; if burgled more likely to own; breakin > more fearful, may want to protect children from breakins; may live in high crime locale

PEOPLE IN GROUP	PREDICTOR VARIABLE
Baker, Almond, Montanez, Godfrey	Age (under / over 27)	click
Rau, McKenrick, DeAntoniis Boyd, Chinn, Aquilar, Harris	Government doing too much or too little about crime	click
Burns, Slinka, Zapiec	Size of City	click
Kirk, Merch, Shanley, Bernard, Garcia	Robbed on street in last year (Y/N)	click
Martin, Lermitte	Gender	click
Reese, Kristel, Kipp Slome, Person, Danze, Butler, Cline	(picked up or charged) vs. not	click
Breniser, White, Muhaimin, Foreman	African-American vs. other modified: race and city	click click
Zanetich, Meade, Johnson	liberal vs. conservative	click
Caimichelo, Franchi, Mitchell, Pollydore Murphy, Chang, Brautigam, Agnew, Leach	Education HS ed. vs. less	click
Warrick, Crockett, Tyrell	Burgled in last year vs. not	click