DEVIATING FROM THE MEAN - THE DECLINING SIGNIFICANCE OF SIGNIFICANCE

Most of the methods we use in criminology to infer relationships are b ased on mean values of distributions. This essay explores the historic al origins of this issue and some counterproductive consequences: rely ing too heavily on sampling as a means of ensuring ''statistical signi ficance''; ignoring the implicit assumptions of regression modeling; a nd assuming that all data sets reflect a single mode of behavior for t he entire population under study. The essay concludes by suggesting th at we no longer ''make do'' with the standard methodologies used to st udy criminology and criminal justice, and recommends developing catego ries that more accurately reflect behavior and groupings than the ones we currently use; looking at alternative sources of data, including q ualitative data such as narrative accounts; and developing alternative methods to extract and analyze the data from such sources.