What are strengths and weaknesses of national crime victims survey?

Advantage:

• Rich qualitative data
• Can be anonymous - more likely to be honest
• Practical - easy to administer cheaper than other methods e.g interviews
• Allows respondents to explain in their own Words

Disadvantages:

• Qualitative data - hard to analyse
• Participants can lie (especially rape victims due to embarrassment)
• Respondents (like in interviews) cannot ask if they are unsure of a question
• Questions cannot be changed (like in interviews) dependent on answers given
• Low response rate