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   The British Crime Survey is a survey conducted in the form of an interview. This poses difficulties for the interviewer, as interviewers can be a source of variance due to more or less subtle differences between them in the ways they read questions, the tone of their voice, and many other factors. However, in interview format, there is guarantee that results will follow, as there is no opportunity for non-correspondence.

• The data analysis process can be complex, with ‘some methods still developing’ (Graves 1998). The ‘methodology relying on standardization’ can force the researcher to develop questions general enough to be minimally appropriate for all respondents, possibly missing what is most appropriate to many respondents. This may be true of areas where there are high levels of crime, and education levels are not as high in that area as in others.
• The researcher must ensure that a large number of the selected sample will reply.
• It may be hard for participants to recall information or to tell the truth about a controversial question.
• As opposed to direct observation, survey research (excluding some interview approaches) can seldom deal with "context."

   Some researchers believe that qualitative and quantitative methodologies cannot be combined because the assumptions underlying each tradition are so vastly different. Other researchers think they can be used in combination only by alternating between methods: qualitative research is appropriate to answer certain kinds of questions in certain conditions and quantitative is right for others. Snyder (1998) states that-
‘Both qualitative and quantitative methods can be used simultaneously to answer a research question.’

   To a certain extent, researchers on all sides of the debate are correct: each approach has its drawbacks. Quantitative research often ‘forces’ (Hathaway, 1995) responses or people into categories, that might not ‘fit’, in order to make meaning. Qualitative research, on the other hand, sometimes ‘focuses too closely on individual results and fails to make connections to larger situations or possible causes of the results.’ (Hathaway, 1995) Rather than discounting either approach for its drawbacks, though, Snyder (1998) argues that ‘researchers should find the most effective ways to incorporate elements of both to ensure that their studies are as accurate and thorough as possible.’
The BCS, in using only interview based surveys, makes no attempt to accommodate qualitative methods into the research.

   As the British crime survey is in survey format, the possibility to look at alternative research methods exists. There are two main forms of the survey method. There is the interview, used by the BCS, and also there is the questionnaire. Trochim (2000) suggests that there are three varieties of questionnaire-
• Group
• Mail
• Drop- Off
And two varieties of the interview-
• Phone
• Personal (BCS)

   Being fairly large in size, it is unlikely the BCS word be successful as a phone interview, due to the reluctance of participants to want to remain on the phone for long periods of time. If delivered to homes, there is the possibility that participants may not return the survey, may not complete the survey, or may not take the required time to complete the survey efficiently. Internet surveying is an area for exploration; it is quick, and less effort that a written survey, and may prove more appealing. The downfall of internet surveying is that a large percentage of the population (and it might be argued, the percentage most likely to be victims of crime) do not have access to the internet. Critical elements in an exemplary survey are ‘to ensure that the right population is indeed being sampled (to address the questions of interest).’ (Article from the ‘American Association for Public Opinion Research’, 2002.) Therefore, given the nature of the BCS, it is the opinion of this essay that a face to face interview is the more suitable technique. A more radical suggestion, by Lynn and Eliot, 2000, would be not merely to spread the field work out a bit more, but to move to completely continuous field work. They argue that distributing the sample evenly over the whole year in this way would have a number of advantages-
‘It would provide a guarantee against possible seasonal effects in the survey estimates.
It would also provide a mechanism for the production of rolling estimates relating to any desired time period.’

   This, they suggest, would improve the timeliness and frequency with which survey results could be produced and the flexibility of the survey for providing estimates.
Values and ethics raised or overlooked

   In determining the questions, there are issues that must be considered such as type of questions, question contents, response format, question wordings, and question placing (Trochim, 2000). The questions given are often misinterpreted; therefore clarity in the questioning is also a necessity. It is the opinion of this essay that the British crime survey successfully accommodates for the wide social and cultural differences, in that it is distributed evenly throughout various areas. However, the main detail that would accommodate these further is the design of a multi-language copy. Haworth notes that-‘Researcher who choose to do surveys have an ethical obligation to use population samples that are inclusive of race, gender, educational and income levels’

   Earlier mentioned was the exclusion of immigrants from taking part. It should be noted though that many British nationals residing in the British Isles (more relevantly England and Wales) are unable to speak English, or have so poor a grasp of English as to fully understand questions and give sufficient answers. A copy in the Welsh medium is available. However, it only contains details on crime in Wales. The availability of the BCS in multi language format is a recommendation put forward by this essay.

   Ethically, the BCS maintains complete privacy of the participants. That task is made ever more difficult given the number of participants, and given the fact that interviews are ‘face to face’. Respondents were questioned at home by the interviewers using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI). With CAPI, the interviewer enters responses into a laptop computer. The questionnaire is a computer program which specifies the questions, the range and structure of permissible answers, and the routing instructions. CAPI was introduced in the 1994 BCS. On certain sections, the interviewee is required to enter answers themselves. This is questionable practice; generally, the older age groups participating will have little experience in computing, and anti-personalising of using computers may prove daunting.

   Typically, a critique will include a discussion section which examines how the points made in this paper add to existing critiques or provide a new perspective on the history of the area under consideration.

   The points made in this critique add to the points made by Lynn and Eliot in their review of the 20001/2003 British crime survey. The view held by Lynn and Eliot, that the BCS should be moved to annual sampling, is supported. Only then can a clearer picture of crime be made. What is suggested by this critique, however, is that perhaps a change in format can be tested. By sampling using another survey method, comparisons can be made to help gauge the consistency of answers given. A different style may prove more successful in obtaining more reliable answers off participants.

   Also noted is the exclusion of the under-sixteen’s from the British crime survey. Therefore, there are no figures on crimes against children, and serious crimes against children, such as child abuse. There are difficulties in obtaining this information though. If the figures were received by current participants referring to crime committed against them in the past, the information would be out-of-date, as participants (sixteen and over) are referring to child abuse suffered perhaps, in some cases, years ago. As mentioned in the discussion of ethics, it may be unsuitable for a child under sixteen to participate. It should be noted that obtaining this information from a minor may prove unethical. However, it is worth considering the benefits of having up-to-date information on crimes against children, and perhaps a separate, more suitable, method of obtaining this information can be found.
What is interesting about the BCS, in comparison with earlier copies, is that the questioning has been over a period of the calendar year, as opposed to the first quarter of every year. This suggestion, put forward by Lynn and Eliot, is advantageous. Due to the increase in sample size (from twenty thousand to forty thousand), there was a need to allow more time for participants to answer questions correctly. As opposed to merely doubling the time given (from three months to six months), it was decided that giving the calendar year would benefit both participant and interviewer alike.

   This Critique was written in order to address the issues surrounding the British crime survey. The main points in this essay were-
• The disadvantages and advantages of survey-based interviewing
• The ethics of interview-based surveying
• Possible improvements of future editions of the BCS.

   By the discussion of these main points, the implications of the BCS are revealed. It has been identified that there are a number of different mediums available in which to conduct a survey. It is the opinion of this essay that the most effective medium available is being used for this line of research, and that the improvements suggested in earlier critiques has contributed greatly to the success of the British Crime Survey.

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