| Title |
Environmental Simulation for a CPTED Experiment |
| Abstract |
Few studies have investigated the effects of design variables on crime prevention using an experimental method. This paper presents a case experiment performed to assist in a crime prevention program for a major railway station. The paper intends to explore the methodological and practical potentials and to provide lessons for future experiments. A systematic review of previous studies and CPTED design guidelines helped formulate five design hypotheses. For each hypothesis, two computer animations were constructed with each playing for about 18-20 seconds, differing only in the design variable in question. In total, ten animations were prepared. Using a beam projector, a set of five animations were presented in random order to each of the two randomly assigned groups. A total of 60 architectural students participated in either the experimental or the control group. The subjects were asked to pretend to be a potential criminal and to fill out the Likert-scaled questions which were designed to measure the intention to commit nine different crimes in each given animated situation. This study revealed some methodological problems, particularly in construct validity in terms of how well the animations represented the hypothetical situations. These problems were summarized, and the research findings presented the relationships between some design aspects and the crime intention in the railway station. |