Perceptions Of Terrorism Regarding Fear Of Victimization

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to measure perceptions of terrorism in regards to fear of victimization by terrorist organizations among college undergraduates. A quantitative measure of levels of fear of victimization and its possible effects on student behavior will be obtained through the use of a survey instrument. The 120 students will be confidentially surveyed at The University of Texas at Arlington. The experimental group will have nine media photos of major terrorist events attached to their survey. The research team hypothesizes that female undergraduates will have higher rates of fear of victimization than male undergraduates in both groups (H1). After completing statistical procedures, it became apparent the exposure to the experimental variable may have affected the respondents. There were many significant differences in the response means of males and females in the experimental group, and far fewer significant differences in the response means of males and females in the control group. Therefore, the null hypothesis is partially accepted and the alternative hypothesis is partially rejected in regards to the control group. Conversely, the null hypothesis (H0) is partially rejected and the alternative hypothesis (H1) is partially accepted in the experimental group.