DEVELOPMENT OF MEASURES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS - A PILOT STUDY OF PREDICTIVE VALIDITY BASED ON A SAMPLE OF PRE-TRIAL DETAINEES - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 48992
• Author(s): N E FREEBERG; G J ECHTERNACHT
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 44 pages
• Corporate Author: Educational Testing Service
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE VALIDITY OF MEASURES FOR ASSESSING ATTITUDES AND COGNITIVE SKILLS IN DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS IS TESTED IN A STUDY OF 191 MALES AGED 14 TO 18 DETAINED AT THE ESSEX COUNTY YOUTH HOUSE IN NEW JERSEY.

Abstract

TEN MEASURES OF A TEST BATTERY ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR PERSONS FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS, TOGETHER WITH A CONVENTIONAL READING TEST, WERE ADMINISTERED TO THE SUBJECTS. THE TESTS WERE VALIDATED AGAINST 37 CRITERION VARIABLES ENCOMPASSING POST-DETENTION PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES IN THE AREAS OF SOCIAL, COMMUNITY, AND JOB ADJUSTMENT. THE CRITERION INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR 51 OF THE SUBJECTS, WHO WERE FOLLOWED FOR 6 TO 10 MONTHS AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM DETENTION. THESE SUBJECTS WERE FOUND TO READ AT A FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE LEVEL. THEY ADJUSTED FAIRLY WELL IN TERMS OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. SIXTY-SEVEN PERCENT FOUND EMPLOYMENT, PRIMARILY IN LOW-PAYING, POOR QUALITY JOBS. THE SUBJECTS' WEAKEST POINT WAS THEIR INABILITY TO PLAN VOCATIONAL GOALS. EIGHT OF THE TEST MEASURES PROVED SUFFICIENTLY VALID TO WARRANT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AS GUIDANCE TOOLS FOR ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS. THE VALID TESTS INCLUDED MEASURES OF COGNITIVE-VERBAL ABILITY, VOCATIONALLY ORIENTED COGNITIVE SKILLS, SELF-ESTEEM, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY. SUPPORTING DATA, COPIES OF TEST INSTRUMENTS, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)