NCJ Number
54577
Date Published
1978
Length
363 pages
Annotation
PERSPECTIVES ON THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF JUVENILE RUNAWAYS ARE PROVIDED, BASED ON DATA FROM TWO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE STUDIES--ONE IN COLORADO, THE OTHER NATIONWIDE.
Abstract
THE COLORADO STUDY ASSESSED THE INCIDENCE OF RUNNING AWAY IN SECTIONS OF THE STATE AND EXAMINED THE NATURE OF THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS LEADING TO RUNAWAY BEHAVIOR. THE SECOND STUDY WAS MUCH LARGER IN SCOPE AND INVOLVED A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF OVER 7,000 YOUTH DRAWN FROM 10 DIFFERENT CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FOLLOWING AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BACKGROUND OF BOTH STUDIES, PRIOR RESEARCH ON RUNAWAYS IS REVIEWED. SUBSEQUENT SECTIONS PRESENT THE THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES TESTED BY THE STUDIES, OUTLINE THE METHOLOGICAL PROCEDURES UTILIZED IN THE RESEARCH, DESCRIBE THE ACTUAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS OF RUNAWAYS, AND PROVIDE EXPLANATORY SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION OF FACTORS BOTH THEORETICALLY AND EMPIRICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH RUNAWAY BEHAVIOR. BASED ON THIS TAXONOMIC AND DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS, GENERAL MULTIFACETED TAXONOMIES OF RUNAWAYS ARE DEVELOPED. EACH SECTION CONTAINS A REVIEW OF THE RESPECTIVE THEORETICAL ISSUES WHICH EMERGE WITHIN THE PARTICULAR SUBSTANTIVE DOMAIN AND EXAMINES THE MANNER IN WHICH THE EMPIRICAL DATA EITHER CONFIRM OR REFUTE VARIOUS THEORETICAL HYPOTHESES. CONCLUDING SECTIONS INTEGRATE MANY OF THESE THEORETICAL ISSUES, EXAMINE THE PREDICTIVE POWER OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY, AND EVALUATE THE FINDING'S GENERAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SETTING OF SOCIAL POLICIES, THE TREATMENT OF RUNAWAYS, AND THE DIRECTION OF FUTURE RESEARCH. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE INCLUDED, ALONG WITH REFERENCES AND AN INDEX. (KBL)