Envisioning Criminology

This volume demonstrates the ability of visualizations to enhance both qualitative and quantitative research methods, from the history and foundations to cutting-edge, emerging visual techniques. It demonstrates how visualizations can contextualize data, giving researchers insights not only in presenting conclusions but in the development of initial hypotheses and research questions. Divided into three sections, the book opens with background: the limitations of current research paradigms, the history of visualization use in Criminology and Criminal Justice and other disciplines, and the advantages of visualizations. The second section provides concrete examples and methodologies for using visualizations to complement quantitative data (including mapping, hot spot analyses, visualizing criminal careers, and data simulations over time). The third section demonstrates how visualizations can complement qualitative and mixed methods research. This work provides an inspiring and valuable resource for researchers across the fields of criminology and criminal justice, as well as related disciplines like sociology, public health, and social psychology.