NCJ Number
75924
Date Published
1980
Length
28 pages
Annotation
A model which views school crime and disruption as a function of the match between student personal characteristics and school social environments was empirically tested using a questionnaire survey of 2,020 high school students.
Abstract
Ten dimensions of student-school fit were derived and related to three composite measures of student misconduct: school crime, school avoidance, and class misbehavior. A total of 997 male and 1,023 female students at 2 Detroit, Mich. suburban high schools completed questionnaires on behaviors in high school environments to provide data for the study. The results provided some consistent but modest support for a person-environment theory of school crime and disruption. Some significant relationships were found between both ability-demand and opportunity-need dimensions of student-school fit and the three measures of school misbehavior. Only social leadership showed no significant association for any of the misconduct measures for either sex. The incidence of fighting or destruction of school property by boys was low where the need and opportunity for teacher support matched. Incidence increased among boys who wanted either more or less opportunity for such support. Further research based on this model should improve understanding of rebellious, disruptive, and delinquent behavior, both within and outside the school context. Tabular data, charts, and 33 references are included.