Development of Inventory Items To Measure Response Differences of Delinquent and Nondelinquent Youths

• NCJ Number: 87392
• Author(s): L D Kirk
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 117 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Utah State University - doctoral dissertation

Annotation

This study estimates the usefulness of items on a self-report instrument descriptive of delinquent behavior by testing their reliability and discriminative power.

Abstract

The 160-item instrument was drawn from personality theories and from clinical practice related to delinquency. The objectives were to test a set of items for their power to discriminate delinquent from nondelinquent responses and to validate the power of these items to discriminate delinquent from nondelinquent youths in a second mixed group. Significantly discriminating items emerged which, when administered to a second group, correctly classified 80 percent of the tested youth. Subjects were 125 youths selected as delinquents and 125 nondelinquents. Selected items referred to family togetherness and supportiveness, limit-setting and behavior consequences, self-esteem and success, and school functioning. The test items can be used to educate parents, other adults, and students in recognizing some psychosocial behaviors related to interpersonal social behavior. Data tables and illustrations, about 100 references, and the appended inventory items and supplementary material are included. (Author abstract modified)