Objectives

We provide a brief overview of collider bias and its implications for criminological research.

Methods

Owing to the nature of the topics studied, as well as the common data sources used to carry out much of this research, work in the field may often become vulnerable to a specific methodological problem known as collider bias. Collider bias occurs when exposure variables and outcomes independently cause a third variable, and this variable is included in statistical models. Colliders represent somewhat of a paradox in that there is scholarship discussing the issue, yet it has managed to remain a relatively cryptic threat compared to other sources of bias.

Results

We argue that, far from being an obscure concern, colliders almost certainly have pervasive impact in criminal justice and criminology.

Conclusion

We close by offering a general set of strategies for addressing the challenges posed by collider bias. While there is no panacea, there are better practices, many of which are underutilized in the disciplines that study crime and its attendant topics.

中文翻译：

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在犯罪研究中认真对待碰撞问题：研究报告

目标

我们简要概述了碰撞偏差及其对犯罪学研究的影响。

方法

由于所研究主题的性质，以及用于开展大部分研究的通用数据源，该领域的工作可能经常容易受到称为碰撞偏差的特定方法问题的影响。当暴露变量和结果独立地导致第三个变量并且该变量包含在统计模型中时，就会发生碰撞偏差。对撞机在某种程度上代表了一个悖论，因为有学术界在讨论这个问题，但与其他偏见来源相比，它仍然是一个相对神秘的威胁。

结果

我们认为，碰撞绝不是一个默默无闻的问题，几乎肯定会对刑事司法和犯罪学产生普遍影响。

结论

最后，我们提供了一套通用策略来解决对撞机偏差带来的挑战。虽然没有灵丹妙药，但有更好的实践，其中许多在研究犯罪及其相关主题的学科中没有得到充分利用。