Description of the Questionnaire

The questionnaire is based on the Rochester Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study that began in 1989 and continues to this day. The sample includes 639 adolescents from Rochester, New York, who were followed until the age of 25. The questionnaire focuses on delinquent peer behaviors such as use of violence, theft, vandalism, and school absenteeism.

Purpose

The purpose of the questionnaire is to capture the extent to which adolescents are exposed to delinquent behaviors through their circle of friends. In this way, it enhances the understanding of the relationship between peer influence and the emergence of delinquency among adolescents.

Data Analysis and Use

The questions focus on behaviors that took place in the past 30 days. Participants are asked to indicate how many of their friends engaged in specific actions, such as using a weapon or violence to obtain money, committing assaults, thefts, vandalism, unauthorized use of a car, and skipping school without excuse. Responses are recorded on a four-point scale, from 1 (none of them) to 4 (most of them). Scores are summed, with higher scores indicating greater exposure of the adolescent to delinquent peer behaviors. The data can be used for the prevention of youth delinquency, the development of educational and social interventions, and for providing research-based evidence of the significance of peer influence in shaping adolescent behavior.

Calibration

Calibration is carried out through the four-point response scale. The total score is calculated as the sum of responses across all questions. The higher the score, the greater the likelihood of the adolescent being involved in an environment of delinquent peer influences.

References

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, 47–83.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2004). Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools.