Community Collective Efficacy and Trust in the Police Among Chinese Urbanites

• In Event: ACCCJ Policing in Chinese Societies

Abstract

The variation in collective efficacy within urban communities has long been a focus for social scientists in Western societies and is a popular area of inquiry. Defined as the process of informal social control and social cohesion among residents (Sampson 2013), the validity of collective efficacy has been proved by studies conducted around the world; however, research in Chinese context has rarely been found. Examination of collective efficacy under Chinese background is thus necessary as it can extend the theory and contribute to the community development in China. Therefore, using data from 2012 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2012), the present study examines the applicability of collective efficacy theory among Chinese urban residents. Binary logistic regression models are employed to test whether items developed in Western context are applicable under Chinese background; additional factors such as residents’ trust in police and criminal justice system, residents’ household registration status, and residents’ community type are also included in the model to find the strongest predictors.

Author

• Wenjin Wang, University of Delaware