Surveying in Rural Settings

Rural places around the world are home to 45 percent of the global population, yet rural spaces (generally) and rural crime (particularly) are significantly under-researched in the extant literature. Although rural criminology as a distinct field of study is growing, the quantum of research in this area remains very low when compared with the sheer volume of scholarship produced annually focussed on these matters in urban settings. This chapter outlines the use of surveys for collecting data and assessing attitudes and sentiments of rural people. Drawing upon four case studies, it considers the design of a research paradigm; assesses survey design, methods, and methodology; outlines practical considerations; and makes suggestions for meaningful survey data analysis.