Citation

Bollen KA, Phillips DP. Am. J. Sociol. 1981; 87(2): 404-412.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/227464

PMID

7294275

Abstract

Recent research by Phillips suggested that publicized suicide stories triggered a rise in suicides, some of which were disguised as motor vehicle fatalities (MVF). The most striking finding of his research was a 31% jump in California MVF on the third day after publicized suicide stories. Yet, until they are replicated, we do not know whether these results are limited to: (1) California, (2) the time period studied (1966-73), or (3) the method of analysis used. In this research note we replicate Phillip's California analysis with Detroit metropolitan data for 1973-76. We use two different statistical techniques to insure that Phillips's findings are not an artifat of his method of analysis. We find a 35%-40% increase in Detroit MVF on the third day after a publicized suicide story. Our replication suggests that Phillips's most striking result the third day peak in MVF is not limited to a particular geographical region, time period, or technique of analysis.

Language: en