Invalid test of the proximity hypothesis in the Scandinavian panel study of penal attitudes

Abstract

Based on data for three participating countries in the Scandinavian study of public sense of justice, Balvig et al. (2015) conclude that data support the proximity hypothesis. They admit, however, that additional information about sanctions given to respondents might have influenced the results, and suggest a new study without such information. The Norwegian part of the Scandinavian study complies with their wish. Analysis of these data and the films we used in the study do not support the proximity hypothesis because mock-trial films crucial for testing of the hypothesis are biased in favour of it. Balvig et al. (2015) were not aware of this methodological problem built into the Scandinavian study.