NCJ Number
69007
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 15 Issue: 58 Dated: (SUMMER (1980) Pages: 257-266
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
TO COMPARE THE ATTITUDES OF MALE AND FEMALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARD THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THIS STUDY SURVEYED 126 MALE AND 112 FEMALE STUDENTS FROM 14 SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOLS.
Abstract
SUBJECTS WERE ALL IN GRADES 11 AND 12. THE SEMANTIC DIFFERENTIAL WAS USED TO MEASURE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES ON NINE CONCEPTS REGARDING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. TWELVE ADJECTIVE PAIRS WERE USED TO DESCRIBE EACH OF THE NINE CONCEPTS. CONCEPTS INCLUCED PLEA BARGAINING, DUE PROCESS, THE JURY SYSTEM, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, JUSTICE, PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE, AND POLICE OFFICERS. RESULTS INDICATED NO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SEXES ON SEVEN OF THE CONCEPTS. FEMALES HELD A SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POSITIVE VIEW TOWARD THE JURY SYSTEM AND AN ALMOST SIGNIFICANTLY (.0578 LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE) MORE POSITIVE VIEW TOWARD JUDGES. THE GENERAL CONVERGENCE OF VIEWS MAY BE DUE TO THE CHANGES OF VIEWS FOSTERED BY THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT OR THE HOMOGENEOUS SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE SCHOOLS. THE DIFFERENCES ON TWO VARIABLES COULD RESULT FROM DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SEXES, THE GREATER LIKELIHOOD THAT MALES HAVE HAD NEGATIVE CONTACTS WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES. FURTHER RESEARCH INTO YOUNG PEOPLE'S KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WAYS TO CHANGE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION IS RECOMMENDED. TABLES, A REFERENCE LIST, AND AN APPENDIX PRESENTING THE ADJECTIVE PAIRS USED ARE INCLUDED.