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In Want of Methodological Rigor: A Critique of Suber et al. (2022)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2025

Michelle D. Fabiani Open the ORCID record for Michelle D. Fabiani [Opens in a new window]  and
Emiline Smith Open the ORCID record for Emiline Smith [Opens in a new window]
Michelle D. Fabiani*
Affiliation:
Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, USA
Emiline Smith
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
*
Corresponding author: Michelle D. Fabiani; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

In their 2022 publication in this journal, Suber and colleagues attempt to apply crime mapping to the illicit trade of cultural objects from the Middle East to establish a causal relationship between conflict and heritage looting. The article calls for comments by readers on the methodological approaches and results (p. 559). This commentary addresses the article’s shortcomings, specifically highlighting its inadequate grounding in existing literature, methodological limitations, and problematic data approach.

Keywords

crime mappinghotspot analysismethodological rigorantiquities traffickingSyria
Type
Response
Information
International Journal of Cultural Property , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , August 2024 , pp. 381 - 385
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Cultural Property Society

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