‘Paintings for a Crime’: Composed Cognitive Maps for Measuring Crime and Situation

Abstract

The Ecuadorian State implemented policies to improve the quality and reliability of statistical material. Among these materials, composed cognitive maps were innovated and applied. These materials consist of drawings made by witnesses and victims of perceived hostile and dangerous territories that were analyzed through ethnographic and Grounded Theory Method.  This process allowed for a deeper understanding of hotspots, associated criminal situations and large victimization patterns throughout the national territory, than traditional ones. The composed cognitive maps and resulting spatial dynamics of crime helped to overcome the gap between the micro and macro level problem in criminology and gave important insights to design crime policies. We briefly describe the experience, compare the method to the traditional ones and give an example of its diagnostic potential compared to regular information managed to day by the police.