SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY - A COMPARISON OF STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS AND SELF-ADMINISTERED CHECKLISTS

• NCJ Number: 18674
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 65 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1974) Pages: 545-553
• Author(s): M KROHN; G P WALDO; T G CHIRICOS
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Williams and Wilkins Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

USING TWO RANDOM SAMPLES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS, THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED DIFFERENCES IN DELINQUENCY REPORTING FOR TWO FACTORS: THE TYPE OF DATA FORMAT (INTERVIEW OR QUESTIONNAIRE) AND THE TYPE OF INTERVIEWER.

Abstract

IN BOTH DATA COLLECTION FORMATS, RESPONDENTS WERE ASSURED OF COMPLETE ANONIMITY. DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THE FOLLOWING OFFENSES: ALCOHOL USE UNDER AGE; DRUNKEN DRIVING; MARIJUANA USE; PETTY THEFT; GRAND LARCENY; PROPERTY DAMAGE; AND ILLEGAL ENTRY. THE DATA WERE ANALYZED IN CONTINGENCY TABLES, AND CHI-SQUARE TESTS FOR STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND CONTINGENCY COEFFICIENTS FOR A MEASURE OF ASSOCIATION WERE COMPUTED. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEW FORMATS. THE TWO TYPES OF INTERVIEWS USED WERE CONSERVATIVE AND 'FREAKY'. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FOR THREE OFFENSE CATEGORIES, THE TYPE OF INTERVIEWER DID HAVE AN EFFECT. FURTHERMORE THE INTERVIEWER EFFECT WAS GREATER IN THE CHECKLIST ADMINISTRATION THAN IN THE INTERVIEW ADMINISTRATION. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ARE INCLUDED.