NCJ Number
100309
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 20 Issue: 79 Dated: (Fall 1985) Pages: 509-523
Date Published
1985
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Two hundred students in grades 4-8 and 10 participated in a study of school theft.
Abstract
Students responded to a four-part questionnaire designed to measure perceptions of theft incidence and seriousness, personal responsibility for correcting theft, and perceived consequences of thievery. A main grade effect was observed for personal responsibility and consequences, but represented counter directions. Eighth graders reported the highest incidence of theft, and females prescribed harsher penalties for theft. Results only weakly support a developmental interpretation of school theft patterns. Overall, students uniformly report that theft is a major problem in their schools. (Publisher abstract)