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The role of perceived effectiveness in home security choices

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Abstract

Some research has examined the factors that influence whether individuals take precautions against crime, while other work has explored residents’ perceptions about what effectively protects homes from burglary. However, prior studies have not assessed whether the perceived effectiveness of a protective measure affects the likelihood of its use. The present study explored that question using data from a mail survey; other independent variables included fear, perceived risk, prior victimization, and demographic factors. The analyses indicated that perceived effectiveness was the most frequently significant predictor, while other variables were generally insignificant.

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Notes

  1. One 60 W bulb × 24 h per day × 365 days = 525.6 kilowatthours (kWh) per year of energy used. Connecticut has the highest cost per kWh, at 20.23 cents (U.S. Energy Information Administration 2017). 525.6 kWh × .2023 = $106.33 per year. The same calculation based on 9.87 cents per kWh in Washington (the cheapest state) yields a cost per year of $51.88.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by a research development Grant from Penn State New Kensington. My thanks also go to the helpful staff of Marketing Information Service for their assistance with mailing list procurement and production of the survey mailing.

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  1. Administration of Justice Department, Penn State New Kensington, 3550 7th Street Road, New Kensington, PA, 15068, USA

    Jeffrey J. Roth

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  1. Jeffrey J. Roth
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Correspondence to Jeffrey J. Roth.

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Roth, J.J. The role of perceived effectiveness in home security choices. Secur J 31, 708–725 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-017-0125-y

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