STATUS ORIGINS, TRACK POSITION, AND DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT - A SELF-REPORT ANALYSIS

• NCJ Number: 35858
• Journal: Sociological Quarterly Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1975) Pages: 264-271
• Author(s): D H KELLY
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Missouri
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

A STUDY, UTILIZING A SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED IN 1971 TO 173 SENIORS IN TWO NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOLS, OF THE RELATIVE PREDICTIVE POWER OF STATUS ORIGINS AND TRACK (CURRICULUM) POSITION IN PREDICTING DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

RECENT RESEARCH IS REVIEWED WHICH INDICATES THAT TRACK POSITION IS A SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ACCURATE PREDICTOR, WITH NON-COLLEGE PREPARATORY STUDENTS MORE LIKELY TO EXHIBIT DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT. ANALYSES, THROUGH USE OF YULE'S Q AND FIRST-ORDER PARTIALS, INDICATE THAT THESE DATA ARE STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RECENT TRENDS NOTED. TRACK POSITION, RELATIVE TO BOTH SEX AND STATUS ORIGINS, EMERGES AS THE STRONGEST PREDICTOR OF SELF-REPORT DELINQUENT INVOLVEMENT. IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE SOCIAL TYPING AND SCREENING PROCESSES THAT TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE SCHOOL NEED TO BE SYSTEMATICALLY ANALYZED. DELIBERATE ATTEMPTS SHOULD BE MADE TO FIND OUT HOW STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AND SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE VARIOUS TRACKS THAT EXIST IN MOST SCHOOLS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)