The causal indeterminacy is compounded by
the possibility of selection-one can choose
activities that carry a reputation for deviance,
and selecting such activities may simply reflect
that one is already inclined toward deviant
behavior, while choosing conventional
activities may indicate the opposite. For instance,
Hirschi (1969:191) concluded that
time spent on homework was negatively related
to delinquency because it indicated investment
in conventional goals. In addition
to these theoretical pitfalls, focusing on activities
that carry connotations of deviance or
virtue is contrary to the broader aims and
spirit of the routine activity perspective,
which explicitly eschews explanation in
terms of values and normative standards
(Birkbeck and LaFree 1993; Felson 1994;
Meier and Miethe 1993).