NCJ Number
17973
Date Published
Unknown
Length
131 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY IN WHICH 790 RURAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 567 URBAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SURVEYED TO DETERMINE RURAL-URBAN VARIATIONS IN PERCEPTIONS OF DEVIANCE, WITH EMPHASIS ON DELINQUENT ACTS.
Abstract
DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM THE TWO GEORGIA SCHOOLS DURING LATE FALL OF 1969 BY MEANS OF A BRIEF, TWO-PART QUESTIONNAIRE. THE FIRST PART ASKED FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE STUDENTS, WHICH THE SECOND PART CONSISTED OF TEN VIGNETTES, EACH DESCRIBING A FICTICIOUS JUVENILE'S DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL SITUATION. STUDENT'S PERCEPTIONS OF DELINQUENCY WERE MEASURED IN TERMS OF THEIR RESPONSES TO THESE VIGNETTES. DELINQUENT ACTS COVERED IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE WERE USE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, THEFT, ASSAULT, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, CHEATING, AND BEING A MEMBER OF A GAMBLING RACKET. THE STUDY EXAMINES THE EXTENT OF OPINION DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS, THE EFFECT OF THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF NORM VIOLATIONS ON THE YOUTHS' DEFINITIONS OF DELINQUENCY, AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE REACTIONS OF OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY ON THE YOUTHS' PERCEPTIONS OF DELINQUENCY. IT WAS FOUND THAT RURAL-URBAN PERCEPTIONS AND DEFINITIONS OF DELINQUENCY WERE REMARKABLY SIMILAR. ALSO, IT WAS SHOWN THAT BOTH RURAL AND URBAN GROUPS CONSIDERED THE NORM VIOLATOR RECEIVING THE LEGALLY MORE SERIOUS FORMAL REACTION AS MORE DELINQUENT. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS TO LABELLING THEORY ARE DISCUSSED. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT IS APPENDED.