Description of the Questionnaire

The SAGE Baseline Survey was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its purpose is to measure the frequency and intensity of delinquent and disciplinary behaviors among adolescents aged 12–17. The questionnaire includes questions concerning theft, property damage, contact with the police and the judicial system, school delinquency through absences, suspensions, and disciplinary violations, as well as issues related to employment and discipline in the workplace. Responses are given according to time intervals, such as the past month, the past six months, the past year, or never.

Purpose

The use of the instrument aims to identify risk factors associated with delinquent behaviors and to determine protective factors that reduce the likelihood of such behaviors. It also allows monitoring changes over time and supports interventions in schools, families, and communities.

Analysis and Use of Data

Each question corresponds to a type of delinquent or disciplinary behavior, and the responses can be examined separately or combined into an overall delinquency index. To create a delinquency or violence index for the past year, one point is assigned to each response that falls into the first three time categories, namely within the past month, between one and six months, or between six months and one year. The final score ranges from zero to nine. The data are used for research and prevention purposes, contributing to the development of strategies aimed at reducing delinquency and strengthening protective factors.

Calibration

The questionnaire has been tested with adolescents aged 12–17 in the United States and is available in both English and Spanish. It is used in different contexts, such as schools, communities, and homes. It has been evaluated for reliability and validity within the framework of studies concerning violence and delinquency, making it a useful tool for researchers and professionals in health and education.

References

Flewelling RL, Paschall MJ, Ringwalt CL. SAGE Baseline Survey. Research Triangle Park, NC: Research Triangle Institute, 1993.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools.