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Attitudes Toward Guns and Violence
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About Attitudes Toward Guns and Violence
Scale Name
Attitudes Toward Guns and Violence
Author Details
Applewood Centers, Inc. (developed by Jeremy P. Shapiro, Rebekah L. Dorman, William M. Burkey, Carolyn J. Welker, and Joseph B. Clough)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Attitudes Toward Guns and Violence Questionnaire (AGVQ), developed by Applewood Centers, Inc. in 1996 and published in 1997 by Jeremy P. Shapiro, Rebekah L. Dorman, William M. Burkey, Carolyn J. Welker, and Joseph B. Clough, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure attraction to guns and violence among youth. Targeting students in grades 3-12 (ages 8-18), it assesses attitudes across four factors: Aggressive Response to Shame, Excitement, Comfort with Aggression, and Power/Safety. The scale was created to address the rising public health concern of youth violence, particularly firearm-related incidents, in urban and diverse school settings. It aligns with social-cognitive theory, which links pro-violence attitudes to aggressive behavior, and was validated through studies supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The AGVQ consists of 26 items (reduced from an initial 61) rated on a 3-point scale (0 = “disagree,” 1 = “not sure,” 2 = “agree”), with a third-grade reading level for accessibility. It is designed for written responses by ages 10-18 and oral administration for ages 8-9. Items assess beliefs such as “If someone insults me, I have to fight to show I’m strong” (Aggressive Response to Shame), “It would be exciting to hold a loaded gun” (Excitement), “It’s okay to fight if someone challenges you” (Comfort with Aggression), and “Having a gun makes you feel powerful” (Power/Safety). Total scores range from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating greater attraction to guns and violence. The scale includes an Aggressive Behavior Checklist (ABC) for teachers and students to complement attitudinal data with behavioral observations. Validated in a sample of 1,619 students across diverse school systems, it is widely used to identify violence risk and evaluate prevention programs.
Psychologists, educators, and public health professionals use the AGVQ to assess violence-related attitudes, predict gun ownership (e.g., high scores linked to a 1 in 3 chance of owning a gun), and evaluate interventions like conflict resolution or gun safety programs. Its strong internal consistency and broad age range enhance its utility, though its English-only availability and focus on school settings may limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the AGVQ kit, including the manual and forms, from Western Psychological Services (WPS) or authorized distributors, ensuring copyright permissions (Copyright © 1996, Applewood Centers, Inc.).
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses opinions about guns and violence to support safer schools, emphasizing confidentiality.
- For ages 10-18, provide written instructions, asking students to mark “agree,” “not sure,” or “disagree” for each of the 26 items based on their current beliefs. For ages 8-9, administer orally, reading items clearly and recording responses.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-10 minutes.
- Administer in a classroom or clinical setting, using paper forms, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. The ABC can be completed by teachers or students for additional behavioral data.
Reliability and Validity
The AGVQ exhibits strong psychometric properties, as detailed in Shapiro et al. (1997). Internal consistency is robust for the full scale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88) and subscales: Aggressive Response to Shame (α = 0.83), Excitement (α = 0.79), Comfort with Aggression (α = 0.81), and Power/Safety (α = 0.72), indicating good to excellent item cohesion. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but inferred to be adequate based on its use in structured studies.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with self-reported gun ownership (r ≈ 0.50-0.60) and aggressive behavior (r ≈ 0.40-0.65), with gun owners scoring 1.5 SD higher than non-owners. Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict gun ownership (low scores: 1 in 125 chance; high scores: 1 in 3 chance) and its sensitivity to intervention outcomes, as noted in violence prevention studies. Factor analysis confirmed the four-factor structure, with the 23-item version retaining construct validity similar to the original 61-item scale. These properties affirm the AGVQ’s reliability and utility in violence prevention research, particularly for identifying at-risk youth.
Available Versions
23-Items
Reference
Shapiro, J. P., Dorman, R. L., Burkes, W. M., Welker, C. J., & Clough, J. B. (1997). Development and factor analysis of a measure of youth attitudes toward guns and violence. Journal of clinical child psychology, 26(3), 311-320.
Shapiro, J. P. (2000). Attitudes toward guns and violence questionnaire. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the AGVQ measure?
It measures attraction to guns and violence across four factors: aggressive response to shame, excitement, comfort with aggression, and power/safety.
Who can use the AGVQ?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying youth violence and gun attitudes.
How long does the AGVQ take to complete?
It takes 5-10 minutes.
Is the AGVQ specific to certain ages?
Yes, it targets grades 3-12 (ages 8-18), with oral administration for ages 8-9.
Can the AGVQ inform violence prevention?
Yes, it identifies risk factors and evaluates intervention outcomes effectively.
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