WS - E - Conducting Community Surveys

Appendix A. Terminology CVS & Crime Victimization Survey & This is the two-part survey provided by BJS/COPS. It includes the community policing section and replicates the questions contained in the National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census. NCVS & The National Crime Victimization Survey is the victimization survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census. Parameter & characteristics of the population of interest, e.g., one gender or one race with victimization experience. Population & the group in which you are interested. RDD & Random Digit Dialing & This is a method for generating a random list of telephone numbers for carrying out the survey. The Windows-based CVS software uses this method to generate a list of numbers for calls. Sample &- a subset or portion of the group you’re interested in. Sampling frame & a list of all possible cases from which you select your sample. Significance testing & the criteria for determining the likelihood that an observed relationship is due to chance. Statistic & the estimate of a population parameter from your sample. Probability sample & a sample in which everyone selected had a known chance of being selected; often probability samples reflect an equal probability of selection. Conducting Community Surveys 21