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Weapon Carrying – Youth Risk Behavior Survey/NYC Youth Violence Survey
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About Weapon Carrying – Youth Risk Behavior Survey/NYC Youth Violence Survey
Scale Name
Weapon Carrying – Youth Risk Behavior Survey/NYC Youth Violence Survey
Author Details
Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (1993, 2003)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Weapon Carrying – Youth Risk Behavior Survey/NYC Youth Violence Survey, developed by the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at the CDC in 1993 and updated in 2003, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the frequency of weapon carrying (e.g., guns, knives, or clubs) among high school students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18). It assesses weapon carrying in three contexts: anywhere, to/from school, and on school property. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005) and Brener et al. (1995), the scale is part of the broader Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and NYC Youth Violence Survey, aligning with public health surveillance frameworks and social ecological models (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). It was used to monitor violence-related behaviors in national and urban (NYC) samples, informing school safety and violence prevention policies.
The scale comprises 3 items rated on a 6-point frequency scale (0 = “0 days” to 5 = “6 or more days” in the past 30 days), with questions like “During the past 30 days, on how many days did you carry a weapon, such as a gun, knife, or club, anywhere?” Scores are analyzed as frequency counts or percentages per context. Validated in national and urban (NYC) high school samples, it is used to assess weapon-carrying prevalence, evaluate intervention impacts, and identify at-risk students.
Public health researchers, educators, and policymakers use the scale to monitor weapon-carrying trends, inform school safety measures, and study correlates of violence. Its high stability and national applicability are strengths, but its English-only availability and self-report nature may limit accuracy due to potential underreporting.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or CDC YRBSS resources (e.g., www.cdc.gov/yrbs), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses weapon-carrying behaviors to promote safer schools, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to report the number of days they carried a weapon in the past 30 days across the three contexts, using the 6-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 1-2 minutes, given its 3-item format.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Weapon Carrying – Youth Risk Behavior Survey/NYC Youth Violence Survey demonstrates strong reliability, as reported in Brener et al. (1995). Test-retest reliability is high, with kappa coefficients ranging from 65.1% to 76.3%, indicating good stability over time. Internal consistency is not applicable due to the small number of items, but item agreement supports reliability.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as physical fighting or delinquency (r ≈ 0.30-0.50), consistent with violence-related frameworks. Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict violence-related outcomes and inform prevention efforts in YRBSS studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s focus on distinct contexts supports construct validity. The high stability makes it reliable, though self-report biases suggest pairing with multi-informant data (e.g., school incident reports).
Available Versions
08-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 Weapon Carrying – Youth Risk Behavior Survey/NYC Youth Violence Survey measure?
It measures the frequency of weapon carrying anywhere, to/from school, and on school property.
Who can use the scale?
Public health researchers, educators, and policymakers studying grades 9-12 students.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 1-2 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets national and urban (NYC) students in grades 9-12.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports school safety programs with high stability (kappas 65.1%-76.3%).
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