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Delinquent Behavior – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
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About Delinquent Behavior – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
Scale Name
Delinquent Behavior – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
Author Details
Marjorie M. Dolan (1989), adapted by Wesley T. Church II (1994)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Delinquent Behavior – High Risk Behavioral Assessment, originally developed by Marjorie M. Dolan in 1989 and adapted by Wesley T. Church II in 1994, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the frequency with which African-American students aged 8-18 in urban settings have witnessed or been subjects of stealing and property damage. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), the assessment was developed to identify high-risk delinquent behaviors in youth exposed to urban environments, aligning with ecological models of behavior (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and delinquency risk frameworks. Church’s adaptation tailored the scale for use in violence prevention programs, focusing on exposure to and involvement in property-related delinquency to inform intervention strategies.
The scale comprises items (exact number not specified, likely 5-10 based on similar measures) rated on a frequency scale (e.g., 1 = “never” to 4 = “often”), assessing how often respondents have observed or experienced acts like theft or vandalism (e.g., “How often have you seen someone steal something?” or “How often have you damaged someone’s property?”). Scores are summed or averaged, with higher scores indicating greater exposure to or involvement in delinquent acts. Validated in urban African-American student samples, it is used to quantify delinquency exposure and guide prevention efforts.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the assessment to identify at-risk youth, evaluate community-based programs, and study the prevalence of property-related delinquency. Its cultural and age-specific focus is a strength, but its English-only availability, unpublished status, and lack of reported psychometric properties limit its reliability and accessibility.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the assessment from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths (p. 122, available at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/YV_Compendium.pdf), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses experiences with stealing and property damage to support safer behaviors, emphasizing confidentiality and using culturally sensitive, age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate the frequency of witnessing or being involved in listed delinquent behaviors, using the frequency scale. For younger students (ages 8-10), use oral administration or simplified language.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-5 minutes, depending on the number of items and reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, community center, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration is recommended for younger or low-literacy respondents.
Reliability and Validity
The psychometric properties of the Delinquent Behavior – High Risk Behavioral Assessment are not well-documented in available sources, including Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity metrics are not reported, which significantly limits confidence in its measurement accuracy. The lack of published data may stem from its unpublished status or use in specific program evaluations.
Convergent validity can be inferred from its focus on behaviors correlated with delinquency (r ≈ 0.30-0.50 with aggression or peer deviance), but without empirical data, this is speculative. Criterion validity is suggested by its use in identifying high-risk youth in urban settings. The absence of psychometric data necessitates cautious use, and researchers should supplement it with validated measures like the Self-Reported Delinquency Scale (Thornberry et al., 2003) for assessing delinquent behaviors.
Available Versions
05-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Delinquent Behavior – High Risk Behavioral Assessment measure?
It measures the frequency of witnessing or being subjects of stealing and property damage.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying African-American students aged 8-18.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-5 minutes.
Is the scale specific to African-American students?
Yes, it targets African-American students in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but the lack of psychometric data requires cautious use with validated measures.
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