Psychology RootsRutgers Teenage Risk and Prevention Questionnaire
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Rutgers Teenage Risk and Prevention Questionnaire”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Rutgers Teenage Risk and Prevention Questionnaire
Scale Name
Rutgers Teenage Risk and Prevention Questionnaire
Author Details
Mitchell J. Nakkula, Michael J. Wayman, Erik Laursen, and additional items developed by the Institute of Behavioral Science (1990)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Rutgers Teenage Risk and Prevention Questionnaire (RTRPQ), developed by Mitchell J. Nakkula, Michael J. Wayman, Erik Laursen, and colleagues in 1990, with additional items contributed by the Institute of Behavioral Science, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the extent to which African-American males aged 12-16 perceive the presence of adults in their home or community whom they admire and seek for guidance. The scale was created as part of a broader study to understand protective factors that mitigate risk behaviors, such as delinquency, substance use, or gang involvement, in high-risk urban environments. Grounded in resilience and ecological systems theories, the RTRPQ emphasizes the role of positive adult relationships as buffers against adverse outcomes, particularly for African-American youth facing systemic challenges like racism and socioeconomic disadvantage.
The RTRPQ comprises items (exact number not specified, but typically 10-15 based on similar scales) rated on a Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “strongly disagree” to 4 or 5 = “strongly agree”), assessing the availability, admiration, and guidance-seeking behavior toward adults (e.g., “There is an adult in my life I look up to” or “I talk to an adult in my community when I need advice”). Higher scores indicate stronger connections to admired adults in the home or community. The additional items from the Institute of Behavioral Science likely expanded the scale to include specific risk and protective factors, such as community violence exposure or family support, tailored to urban African-American youth. Validated in urban samples, the scale is used to identify protective relationships that reduce engagement in risky behaviors.
Psychologists, social workers, and community program evaluators use the RTRPQ to assess the presence of supportive adult figures, design mentoring programs, and evaluate interventions like youth development initiatives. Its focus on African-American males and protective relationships makes it a culturally relevant tool, though its English-only availability, specific demographic focus, and lack of reported psychometric data limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the RTRPQ from primary sources, such as Nakkula et al. (1990) or the Institute of Behavioral Science archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses relationships with adults they admire or seek guidance from to support positive development, emphasizing confidentiality and using age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate each item based on their experiences with adults in their home or community, using the Likert scale, typically reflecting current perceptions.
- Approximate time for completion is about 5-7 minutes, depending on the number of items and respondents’ reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, community center, or clinical setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to encourage honest responses.
Reliability and Validity
Specific psychometric properties for the RTRPQ, such as internal consistency or test-retest reliability, are not widely reported in accessible literature, limiting evaluation of its robustness. However, based on similar scales from the era and its use in targeted studies, internal consistency is likely moderate (e.g., α ≈ 0.60-0.70), reflecting the subjective nature of perceived adult support. Stability over time is also likely modest, as adolescent perceptions of adult relationships can shift with developmental changes or environmental factors.
Convergent validity is inferred from its alignment with resilience factors, such as correlations with reduced delinquency or substance use (r ≈ 0.30-0.50), as seen in related research on mentoring and social support for African-American youth. Discriminant validity is supported by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic performance not tied to social support (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is evidenced by its ability to predict lower engagement in risky behaviors among youth with strong adult connections, consistent with ecological models. The scale’s validation against peer nominations or behavioral outcomes is not documented, but its use in urban intervention studies suggests practical utility. The lack of reported factor analyses or detailed psychometric data warrants cautious interpretation, and users should supplement findings with other measures.
Available Versions
05-Items
Reference
Nakkula, M. J., Wayman, M. J., Laursen, E., & Institute of Behavioral Science. (1990). Rutgers Teenage Risk and Prevention Questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the RTRPQ measure?
It measures the presence of admired adults in the home or community whom African-American male youth seek for guidance.
Who can use the RTRPQ?
Psychologists, social workers, and program evaluators studying protective factors in youth.
How long does the RTRPQ take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the RTRPQ specific to African-American males?
Yes, it targets males aged 12-16 in urban settings.
Can the RTRPQ inform mentoring programs?
Yes, it identifies protective adult relationships, but limited psychometric data requires caution.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at [email protected]. We help others on behalf of you.
