“Investigating the Relationship between Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Public Opinion Regarding Factors Contributing to Increased Murder Cases in Erbil”

Abstract

This study uses a questionnaire survey and Chi-square statistical analysis to examine the association between socio demographic traits and factors linked to the rise in murder cases in Erbil. The goal of the study is to determine how people's perceptions of the social, psychological, and cultural elements influencing murder cases are influenced by demographic parameters such as gender, age, occupation, economic status, and educational level. Data was gathered from 300 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Cronbach's Alpha was used to examine the questionnaire's reliability; the results showed an adequate degree of internal consistency, with a value of 0.686. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests of independence were among the statistical techniques used to examine the gathered data using SPSS and STATGRAPHIC Program. The findings showed a strong correlation between respondents' perceptions of the reasons contributing to an increase in murder cases and a number of demographic traits. Perceptions of social awareness, illegal weapons, family troubles, psychological pressure, honor-related issues, and other contributing elements were found to be influenced by gender, occupation, age and economic status. The results demonstrate that murder is a complicated social phenomena that is impacted by a number of interrelated causes. In order to lessen violent behaviors in society, the study suggests bolstering social awareness, enhancing educational programs, promoting family stability, strengthening legal institutions. In this context, many researchers in the fields of sociology, criminology, and psychology have focused on studying this crime, attempting to understand the various circumstances and causes that influence some individuals and drive them to commit this heinous act. However, some of these studies have neglected an important aspect: the perpetrator, as a man or woman. This may be attributed to our specialized social view that always considers the criminal as a person. The reasons and motives are of various types, and in doing so, we focus on understanding what drives the criminal to kill, taking into account the sanctity of human life. The crime is sometimes committed as a result of social reasons (family problems, family weakness, violence, the breakdown of religious values, weak social control mechanisms, and improper upbringing). Other reasons include psychological factors such as mental illnesses, psychological disorders, and behavioral problems. Economic factors, and even (poverty, unemployment), are among the causes that were and still are, and others