NCJ Number
62897
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 14 Issue: 55 Dated: (FALL 1979) Pages: 451-464
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
PATH ANALYSIS IS APPLIED TO SURVEY DATA OBTAINED FOR VARIABLES IN STINCHCOMBE'S LINEAR CAUSAL MODEL WHICH HYPOTHESIZES THAT SCHOOL REBELLION IS DUE TO EXPRESSIVE ALIENATION WITHIN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
Abstract
ARTHUR STINCHCOMBE'S (1964) 'REBELLION IN A HIGH SCHOOL' FORMULATES AND TESTS HYPOTHESES RELATING 'STRAIN' IN SOCIAL-STRUCTURAL, CULTURAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUBSYSTEMS TO STUDENT REJECTION OF THE SOCIAL WORLD OF THE SCHOOL, AND CONSEQUENTLY, TO STUDENT REBELLION. THE PRESENTED QUASI-REPLICATION OF STINCHCOMBE'S STUDY AIMS AT COUNTERACTING THE FOLLOWING LIMITATIONS IN THE STINCHCOMBE RESEARCH: (1) A BIASED TARGET POPULATION THAT WAS SMALL, ETHNICALLY HOMOGENEOUS, WHITE, WORKING CLASS, RURAL TOWN, (2) EQUIVOCAL OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF SCHOOL REBELLION, (3) USE OF CONTINGENCY TABLES TO TEST LINKS BETWEEN VARIABLES TAKEN TWO AND THREE AT A TIME INSTEAD OF THE MORE APPROPRIATE TECHNIQUE OF PATH ANALYSIS; AND (4) THE FAILURE TO TEST PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS WHEN THEY REFUTE FINDINGS OF OTHER STUDIES. THE REPLICATION MODEL INVOLVES A STUDY OF 805 ELEVENTH GRADERS FROM A TYPICAL URBAN COMMUNITY. PATH ANALYSIS IS USED IN EXAMINING SCHOOL REBELLION AS MEASURED BY SELF-REPORTED PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL STRIKES, SIT-IN DEMONSTRATIONS, RIOTS, PHYSICAL CONFRONTATIONS WITH TEACHERS, AND EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO SCHOOL PROPERTY. WHEREAS STINCHCOMBE'S MODEL HOLDS THAT POOR ARTICULATION, CLAIMS TO ADULT RIGHTS, AND STRUCTURED STRAIN WITHIN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT RELATE TO EXPRESSIVE ALIENATION AND CONSEQUENTLY SCHOOL REBELLION, THE REPLICATION INDICATES THAT EXPRESSIVE ALIENATION IS NOT POSITIVELY LINKED TO REBELLION OR THE VARIABLES ATTRIBUTED TO EXPRESSIVE ALIENATION. ALSO IN CONTRADICTION TO STINCHCOMBE'S FINDINGS, FACTORS ANTECEDENT TO SCHOOLING, SUCH AS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND SEX, WERE FOUND TO BEAR DIRECTLY ON SCHOOL REBELLION (MALES OF HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WERE MORE REBELLIOUS). AN ALTERNATE MODEL FOR SCHOOL REBELLION SHOWS THAT 'POLITICAL EFFICACY' (THE BELIEF THAT CHANGE CAN BE AFFECTED BY PERSONAL ACTION) IS AN IMPORTANT VARIABLE RELATING TO SCHOOL REBELLION. FURTHER, PERSONS HIGH IN POLITICAL EFFICACY TEND NOT TO EXPERIENCE EXPRESSIVE ALIENATION. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)