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Peer Reactions to Delinquency – Rochester Youth Development Study
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About Peer Reactions to Delinquency – Rochester Youth Development Study
Scale Name
Peer Reactions to Delinquency – Rochester Youth Development Study
Author Details
Terence P. Thornberry, Alan J. Lizotte, Marvin D. Krohn, Margaret Farnworth, and Sung Joon Jang
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Peer Reactions to Delinquency scale, developed by Terence P. Thornberry, Alan J. Lizotte, Marvin D. Krohn, Margaret Farnworth, and Sung Joon Jang in 1994 as part of the Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS), is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure peer reactions to delinquent acts among youths initially in grades 7-8 (ages approximately 12-14) in 1988, followed into adulthood. The RYDS, a longitudinal study funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, examined the causes and correlates of delinquency and drug use in a sample of 1,000 urban adolescents from Rochester, New York, over-representing high-risk youth. Published in Criminology (Thornberry et al., 1994), the scale aligns with interactional theory, which posits reciprocal relationships among delinquent peers, beliefs, and behaviors, and social learning theory, emphasizing peer reinforcement as a driver of delinquency (Akers, 1998).
The scale assesses how peers respond to delinquent behaviors, such as stealing, fighting, or drug use, capturing whether peers encourage, tolerate, or discourage these acts (e.g., “What would your friends think if you got into a fight?”). It comprises items (exact number not specified, but typically 6-10 based on RYDS measures) rated on a Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “strongly disapprove” to 5 = “strongly approve”). Higher scores indicate more positive or reinforcing peer reactions to delinquency. Validated in a diverse urban sample (including African-American and Caucasian males), the scale is used to explore peer influence on delinquent trajectories and inform prevention programs.
Psychologists, criminologists, and educators use the scale to assess peer dynamics, evaluate interventions targeting peer networks, and study the role of peer reinforcement in delinquency persistence. Its high internal consistency and longitudinal design enhance its utility, though its English-only availability, focus on urban youth, and reliance on self-reports may limit generalizability.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Peer Reactions to Delinquency scale from primary sources, such as Thornberry et al. (1994) in Criminology or RYDS technical reports (e.g., Farnworth et al., 1990), ensuring ethical use permissions. Contact the University at Albany’s RYDS archive for access.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses how their friends react to certain behaviors to understand peer influence, emphasizing confidentiality and using age-appropriate, culturally sensitive language.
- Provide instructions, asking respondents to rate each item based on their perception of peers’ reactions to specific delinquent acts, using the Likert scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-5 minutes, depending on the number of items and respondents’ reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, research, or community setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. Oral administration may be used for younger adolescents or those with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Peer Reactions to Delinquency scale demonstrates strong psychometric properties, as reported in Thornberry et al. (1994). Internal consistency is high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82, indicating excellent item cohesion for an adolescent sample. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate to high based on similar RYDS attitudinal scales (e.g., r ≈ 0.70-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as association with delinquent peers (r ≈ 0.40-0.60) and self-reported delinquency (r ≈ 0.30-0.50), consistent with interactional theory findings (Thornberry et al., 1994). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic achievement (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict increased delinquency in youth with peer groups that reinforce deviant behavior, as shown in longitudinal RYDS analyses. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s focus on peer reinforcement supports construct validity, aligning with social learning and differential association theories (Sutherland, 1936). The high reliability makes it a robust tool, though it should be paired with behavioral or multi-informant measures for comprehensive assessments.
Available Versions
06-Items
Reference
Thornberry, T. P., Lizotte, A. J., Krohn, M. D., Farnworth, M., & Jang, S. J. (1994). Delinquent peers, beliefs, and delinquent behavior: A longitudinal test of interactional theory. Criminology, 32(1), 47-83.
Farnworth, M., Thornberry, T. P., Lizotte, A. J., & Krohn, M. D. (1990). Sampling design and implementation. Rochester Youth Development Study, Technical Report, 1.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Peer Reactions to Delinquency scale measure?
It measures how peers react to delinquent acts, such as approval or disapproval.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, criminologists, and educators studying peer influence on youth delinquency.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-5 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
Yes, it targets urban youths initially in grades 7-8, followed into adulthood.
Can the scale inform prevention programs?
Yes, it identifies peer dynamics with high reliability, but should be used with other measures.
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