SELF-REPORT MEASUREMENT OF 'DELINQUENT ORIENTATION' IN INSTITUTIONALIZED DELINQUENT AND HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

• NCJ Number: 31200
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1975) Pages: 383-396
• Author(s): L M PETERSON; H B URBAN; F W VONDRACEK
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SELF-REPORT INSTRUMENT DESIGNED TO MEASURE 'DELINQUENT ORIENTATION' AS REVEALED BY YOUTHS' ATTITUDES, VALUES, BELIEFS, AND GOALS PRESUMED TO BE SIGNIFICANT IN GOVERNING BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO A SAMPLE OF 299 INSTITUTIONALIZED DELINQUENTS AND A SAMPLE OF 431 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS. THE SAMPLES WERE MATCHED ON AGE, FAMILY'S SOCIOECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, AND URBAN OR NONURBAN RESIDENCE. THE EXPECTATION THAT DELINQUENT YOUTHS WOULD BE MORE NEGATIVELY ORIENTED AND HENCE INCLINED TO PRODUCE CONSISTENTLY MORE CRITICAL JUDGEMENTS (IN REGARD TO THEIR HOMES, FAMILIES, SCHOOL EXPERIENCES, AND THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS) WAS NOT CONFIRMED BY THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY. ONLY WITH RESPECT TO UNFAVORABLE JUDGEMENTS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ITS PERSONNEL WERE INITIAL EXPECTATIONS UPHELD. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)