Correlation and Regression Analysis of Oahu’s Crime Rate by Age and Ethnic Groups

Abstract

The statistical tools of correlation and regression analysts were developed to estimate the closeness with which two variables are associated. A statement, called the hypothesis, is made as to whether a relationship between the variables does or does not indeed exist. A form of statistical inference known as hypothesis testing is utilized to infer from a sample whether or not to accept that certain hypothesis about the population. The purpose of this thesis is to apply the procedures of correlation and regression analysis and of hypothesis testing to a study of the effect of population sizes on the number of crimes committed by selected ethnic and age groups on Oahu. It is shown that the number of people composing a certain ethnic or age group alone is not significantly associated with the number of crimes being committed by that group. Research data were collected from the Bank of Hawaii Research Department, the Honolulu Police Department, the Corrections Division of the State Department of Social Services, and various reports, magazines, newspapers, and textbooks. Chapter One introduces the hypothesis, the scope and limitations, the data, and the procedure used in the study. Chapter Two presents the findings of this investigation. Some comments on the available literature on the relationships between age and crime are made in Chapter Three. A summary and conclusion follow in Chapter Four.