Worksteps and Methodology
The project is designed in close connection to the process of standardisation and takes a multidisciplinary approach to security policies at the intersection of business, local authorities, police and citizens, and analyses policy networks at the supra-national, national and local level. The innovative element of this methodology is the production of research-based tools that will be introduced into the process and will be developed as part of the research. As such, the project uses methodologies directed toward application of research in the following work steps:
a) The genesis of the Pre-Norm 14383-2
In a first step the genesis of the Pre-Norm will be analysed, and in particular the route toward the critical phase the process of standardisation is presently in. To this purpose, a thorough analysis of the history of the Pre-Norm, the various players and institutions involved, the policies of different countries, and in particular the arguments and positions will be conducted. The analysis will have the following objectives:
- identify the crucial stages of the process and its turns
- identify crucial players and their (changing) roles
- identify crucial arguments and the congruence/ disparity of positions
Methodology: Text analysis, expert interviews and content analysis using NVivo for qualitative data analysis
In a second step, policy networks will be analysed. To this purpose an analysis of selected countries will take place, which will have been selected according to the state of the implementation/ rejection of the Pre-Norm or the application of CPTED principles in various forms. This is preceded by a round of questionnaires to all national Institutes of Normalisation that have been involved in the process, which will provide information for the selection of countries. This analysis has the following objectives:
- identify relevant agents in the process and their role at different stages
- identify crucial flows of communication and networks
- identify facilitating and impeding factors in network design
Methodology: Participant observation; expert interviews with leading officials of the respective committee, content analysis
In a third step, a number of cases of implementation of the Pre-Norm 14383-2 will be analysed. These will be selected from the countries involved in step 2. In the case studies the results of the preceding steps inform the analysis “on the ground”. Cases will represent a variety of spaces and sites – and different security problems - where CPTED principles can be applied, including residential areas, parks and public transport systems. It will also include cases that involve marginalised groups as intended by the Pre-Norm and the guidelines. This analysis has the following objectives:
- identify crucial processes of knowledge transfer
- identify crucial networks and agents in local crime prevention partnerships
- identify specific characteristics of sites that facilitate/ impede the application of CPTED
- identify specific needs of social groups that require specific approaches
Methodology: Participant observation at site visits; expert interviews
The data base will be collected throughout the project, and will be set up in a way that is easily accessible for all actors. This last tool is a final result of the project. It will contain important information on case studies in connection with the application of CPTED guidelines and thus contribute to the knowledge transfer between policy makers on a European level and stakeholders in local security projects. The data base will be maintained beyond the scope of this research project and therefore presents an important tool for CPTED strategies in the future.
