eprintid: 10193739
rev_number: 9
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/19/37/39
datestamp: 2024-06-24 14:51:38
lastmod: 2024-06-24 14:51:38
status_changed: 2024-06-24 14:51:38
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: LaFree, Gary
creators_name: Gill, Paul
title: Strengths and Weaknesses of Open Source Data for Studying Terrorism and Political Radicalization
ispublished: inpress
divisions: UCL
divisions: B04
divisions: C05
divisions: F52
keywords: Open source data; terrorism; political radicalization; databases
note: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
abstract: Compared to studying other forms of illegal violence, terrorism research faces unique data challenges. Notably, consistent police data are generally lacking, victims often have no direct knowledge of attacks and are sometimes killed, and perpetrators are difficult to interview and are often unreliable sources. In the face of these data challenges, the increasing availability of open source data on terrorist attacks and perpetrators has profoundly affected the scientific study of terrorism. Over time, a growing proportion of published academic research on terrorism—especially more heavily quantitative studies—relies on open source data. Moreover, the growing availability of individual-level terrorism data has allowed empirical tests of psychological and social-psychological theories of radicalization. In this paper, we assess the impact of open source data on the study of terrorism. We begin with an overview, providing a brief history of terrorist attack and perpetrator open source data bases. We then consider the major strengths and weaknesses of both types of open source data and suggest ways of countering the weaknesses. We close with observations about the impact of open source data on terrorism research and future opportunities for improvement.
date: 2024-06-05
date_type: published
publisher: Informa UK Limited
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1057610x.2024.2361948
full_text_type: other
language: eng
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 2284436
doi: 10.1080/1057610X.2024.2361948
lyricists_name: Gill, Paul
lyricists_id: PGILL80
actors_name: Gill, Paul
actors_id: PGILL80
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: restricted
publication: Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
issn: 1057-610X
citation:        LaFree, Gary;    Gill, Paul;      (2024)    Strengths and Weaknesses of Open Source Data for Studying Terrorism and Political Radicalization.                   Studies in Conflict & Terrorism        10.1080/1057610X.2024.2361948 <https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2024.2361948>.    (In press).   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10193739/1/Gill_Draft%20Opensource_July7_2023.jpg.pdf