https://doi.org/10.1177/1088767920939617 Homicide Studies 1–25 © 2020 SAGE Publications Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/1088767920939617 journals.sagepub.com/home/hsx Original Article Reconsidering Homicide Clearance Research: The Utility of Multifaceted Data Collection Approaches Shila René Hawk 1 , Dean A. Dabney 2 , and Brent Teasdale 3 Abstract This study explores issues associated with the data commonly used in homicide clearance research. Data collected from 2009 to 2011 case files (n = 252) were reviewed during interviews with investigators (n = 29). The multifaceted data collection approach produced a more comprehensive dataset than was available based solely upon case file reviews, with alterations to the data occurring in as many as 69% of the cases. The process advanced the precision of the data recorded, reduced missingness, and heightened detail on key variables. Significant differences were noted in multivariate analyses of the datasets when modeling clearances. Findings suggest contextualizing case file data is valuable. Keywords homicide, clearance, policing, multimethod, missing data, investigation, methodology, solvability Widely recognized as the most thoroughly documented crime by law enforcement, criminologists have long turned to homicide data to inform the theoretical- and policy landscape of the field. Simply stated, no other type of offense more centrally informs criminology than homicide. Consider the following observations in this regard: 1) nearly the entire subfield of macro criminology is built around studies using city, state, 1 Applied Research Services, Inc., USA 2 Georgia State University, USA 3 Illinois State University, USA Corresponding Author: Shila René Hawk, Applied Research Services, Inc., 3235 Cains Hill PL NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA. Email: shawk@ars-corp.com 939617HSX XX X 10.1177/1088767920939617Homicide StudiesHawk et al. research-article 2020