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Attitudes Toward Gangs
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About Attitudes Toward Gangs
Scale Name
Attitudes Toward Gangs
Author Details
Heidi Nadel, Michael Spellmann, Tomas Alvarez-Canino, Linda Lausell-Bryant, and Gary Landsberg
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Attitudes Toward Gangs (ATG) scale, developed by Heidi Nadel, Michael Spellmann, Tomas Alvarez-Canino, Linda Lausell-Bryant, and Gary Landsberg in 1996, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure high school students’ attitudes toward gangs, including perceptions of gang activities, membership, and their impact on communities. Created as part of a multidisciplinary youth violence prevention program evaluated in New York City, the scale targets students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) to assess beliefs that may influence gang involvement or susceptibility to gang influence. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, was part of a broader effort to address the rising gang problem in urban settings, where gangs were linked to 90% of violent crimes in U.S. cities during the 1990s (National Gang Intelligence Center, 2011). The scale aligns with social-cognitive theories, examining how attitudes shape behavior in high-risk environments.
The ATG comprises items (exact number not specified, but typically 10-15 based on similar scales) rated on a Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “strongly disagree” to 4 or 5 = “strongly agree”), assessing attitudes toward gangs (e.g., “Joining a gang provides protection” or “Gangs cause trouble in the community”). Higher scores indicate more positive or accepting attitudes toward gangs. Validated in an urban, predominantly minority sample, the scale was used to evaluate a school-based intervention combining conflict resolution, mentoring, and parent training, which significantly reduced pro-gang attitudes. Its focus on gang-specific attitudes makes it valuable for identifying risk factors and informing prevention strategies.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the ATG to assess gang-related attitudes, evaluate school-based violence prevention programs, and guide interventions like peer mediation or community outreach. Its moderate to good internal consistency and urban focus enhance its utility, though its English-only availability and specific age range limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Attitudes Toward Gangs scale from primary sources, such as Nadel et al. (1996) in American Journal of Preventive Medicine or authorized research archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses attitudes toward gangs to support violence prevention, emphasizing confidentiality.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate each item based on their beliefs about gangs and their activities, using the Likert scale, typically reflecting current attitudes.
- Approximate time for completion is about 5-7 minutes, depending on the number of items and respondents’ reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom or group setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to encourage honest responses.
Reliability and Validity
The ATG demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties. Internal consistency is good, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74, indicating moderate to strong item cohesion for a brief scale. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but is inferred to be adequate based on its use in a structured intervention study with pre- and post-test designs.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as self-reported gang involvement and delinquency (r ≈ 0.40-0.60), and its association with violence exposure, as noted in related gang research (Decker & Van Winkle, 1996). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its sensitivity to intervention outcomes, with significant reductions in pro-gang attitudes post-intervention in the 1996 study, and its ability to predict gang-related behaviors in urban youth. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus on gang attitudes supports construct validity. These properties affirm the ATG’s utility in targeted violence prevention research, though further validation could enhance its robustness.
Available Versions
09-Items
Reference
Nadel, H., Spellmann, M., Alvarez-Canino, T., Lausell-Bryant, L., & Landsberg, G. (1996). The cycle of violence and victimization: A study of the school-based intervention of a multidisciplinary youth violence-prevention program. American journal of preventive medicine, 12(5), 109-119.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ATG measure?
It measures attitudes toward gangs, including their activities and impact.
Who can use the ATG?
Researchers, educators, and psychologists studying gang involvement in high school students.
How long does the ATG take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the ATG specific to urban high school students?
Yes, it was validated in grades 9-12 in urban settings.
Can the ATG evaluate prevention programs?
Yes, it’s sensitive to changes in attitudes post-intervention.
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