The Social Ecology of Crime (Research in Criminology)

1. Key Issues in the Social Ecology of CrimeIn this opening chapter, we highlight six key issues that are of concern
to both researchers and theorists interested in the community context of crime: (1) The data source controversy; (2) the question of theory integration; (3) the problem of contextual fallacies; (4) conceptualization and measurement issues in ecological research; (5) the use of crosssectional versus longitudinal designs; and (6) the  applications of social ecology to public policy.1 In each of the following eight chapters, one or more of these issues is empirically addressed. However, before assessing these issues, we feel it will be helpful to briefly place the ecological study of crime in its historical perspective. The obvious centerpiece for such an inquiry is the work of Shaw and McKay and the recent expansions, reformulations, and “rediscoveries” of their basic propositions.