Final answer:
The Seattle study analyzed the effect of payday lenders on crime rates in Seattle using social disorganization theory. The study found that specific businesses like payday lenders significantly worsened crime rates over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Seattle study analyzed the effect of payday lenders on crime rates in Seattle, Washington. The study used social disorganization theory and conducted a GIS-based statistical analysis.
Factors that rendered the study include neighborhood variables like the percent of young males, jobless rate, residential instability, and population density, which strongly predicted crime rates.
The study also found that the addition of specific businesses or institutions, such as payday lenders, significantly worsened crime rates over time.
Similar studies have examined the impact of various landscape elements on crime, including parks, liquor stores, and schools, and have confirmed that neighborhood variables affect residents' likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior.