ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION 
Using Spatial Econometrics and GIs to Analyze Robbery in Medium Sized Cities 
by ERIKA DAWN POULSEN 


Dissertation Director: 
Dr. Lyna Wiggins 


Some criminological theories look at the place, space andlor location where crime 

occurs. Several of these theories are geographic in nature and are reviewed and extended in this dissertation. Social disorganization theory notes that the social structure of a neighborhood influences the crime rate. Neighborhoods or communities that are disorganized will have weak informal social control or 'collective efficacy' that does not 

deter crime hm occurring (Sampson and Raudenbush, 1999). The routine activities theory assumes thatthere is a motivated offender, &ve target and the absence of a capable guardian that come together in space (Felson, 1999). The physical structure of a neighborhood influences the daily activities of people occupying thespace, which in turn influences the crime rate. The broken windows hypothesis/theory states that incivilities 

and minor disorders, if left unchecked, will serve as a cue thatresidents do not care about the neighborhood, and will influence crime (Wilson and Kelling, 1982). Each of these theories tackles one or more of the social, physical and behavioral dimensions of a neighborhood. I-kowever, most research has not incorporated the most current methods of 

t. 

spatial analysis for neighborhood based analysis of crime. With few exceptions, much of the 'spatial analysis' relies on multivariate regression analysis with units of analysis such 

as neighborhoods (defined as either census tracts or block groups) and does not include the intluence of space through the dependency or heterogeneity of the neighborhoods. This dissertation examines the use of spatial econometrics in conjunction with geographically-based criminological theories of crime. The crime used for this dissertation is robbery, and the study areas are three mid-sized cities, Albany, NY. Dayton OH, and Hartford, CT. The data for this research is obtained hm public sauces (local and regional governmental agencies, US Census)and is also collected as primary data in the field. The unit of analysis is the census block group and a multivariate regression analysis incorporatingspatial econometrics is used The results fiam this dissertation demonshate that there are three environmental dimensions along with spatial effectsthat influence the occumnce and didbution of robbery. 

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