QUANTIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND CRIME RATES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES: A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS.

The aim of this research is to assess the connection between socioeconomic factors and crime rates in rural areas of Cross River State, Nigeria. To accomplish this, the study was guided by four research questions. A thorough literature review was conducted, covering conceptual, theoretical, and empirical perspectives. The research adopted a survey design, involving 1,889 participants. A questionnaire, titled Socioeconomic Factors and Crime Rates Scale (SEFCRS), was used to gather data. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed, and its reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha, with the results indicating strong internal consistency among the items. Data collection was carried out by trained research assistants, and the data were analyzed using independent t-tests and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings revealed that factors such as financial, educational, and occupational status have a significant impact on crime rates in rural communities, while gender differences did not show a significant effect. The results highlight the importance of developing targeted interventions to address the specific challenges faced by economically disadvantaged individuals and communities.