Furthering the integration of routine activity and social disorganization theories: Small units of analysis and the study of street robbery as a diffusion process

Attempts to integrate the two predominant spatial theories of crime, social disorganization and routine activity theories, may benefit from examining empirical relationships at units of analysis smaller than the relatively la rge units characteristic of most ecological research (cities, SMSAs, census tracts, multiple city blocks). Small units of analysis, specifically, face blocks (both sides of a city block between two intersections) ape analyzed in a study of street robbery within a medium-size southeastern U.S. city. Models of street robbery and street-robbery "potential" suggest a crime dif fusion process. Several interaction effects between variables of social dis organization and routine activity theory ape found, which may form the basi s in future research for successful theoretical integration.