Research design for assessing victimisation, safety and policing in rural areas

This chapter discusses the methodology and research design of the empirical studies conducted in 19 different countries. It also considers the various challenges and limitations in conducting a large international comparative data collection project. The study adopted a truly global perspective of the phenomenon of rural crime, safety perceptions, crime prevention and rural policing. By using surveys covering these topics around rural localities around the world, a central aim of the project was to examine the nature, type and extent of rural victimisation and people's safety perceptions in different country contexts, assessing police trust and crime prevention practices and examining current practices and policies that respond to such safety needs. This chapter also describes the research design framework in detail and the common methodology shared by contributors considers common terms used across the book.