Psychology RootsDisciplinary and Delinquent Behavior – SAGE Baseline Survey
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About Disciplinary and Delinquent Behavior – SAGE Baseline Survey
Scale Name
Disciplinary and Delinquent Behavior – SAGE Baseline Survey
Author Details
Murray A. Straus (1979), modified by Rosenbaum et al. (1991), and Robert L. Flewelling, Mallie J. Paschall, and Christopher L. Ringwalt (1993)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Disciplinary and Delinquent Behavior – SAGE Baseline Survey, originally developed by Murray A. Straus in 1979 and modified by Rosenbaum et al. in 1991 and Flewelling, Paschall, and Ringwalt in 1993, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the self-reported recency of delinquent behaviors and school disciplinary actions among African-American males aged 12-16 in urban settings. Used in the SAGE (Substance Abuse and Growth Evaluation) project, the scale assesses behaviors such as fighting, theft, vandalism, and school suspensions or expulsions, aligning with delinquency and social control theories (Hirschi, 1969). The modifications refined items to focus on urban, high-risk youth, as noted in Paschall and Flewelling (1997), to evaluate violence prevention programs.
The scale comprises items (exact number not specified, likely 10-20 based on similar measures) rated on a recency scale (e.g., 0 = “never” to 3 = “within the past month”), assessing the timing of delinquent acts and disciplinary incidents (e.g., “When was the last time you got into a fight at school?” or “When was the last time you were suspended?”). Scores are summed or averaged, with higher scores indicating more recent or frequent behaviors. Validated in urban African-American male samples, it is used to identify risk profiles and evaluate intervention outcomes.
Psychologists, criminologists, and educators use the scale to assess delinquency and school-related issues, though its unpublished status and lack of reported psychometric properties limit reliability. Its cultural specificity is a strength, but its English-only availability and narrow demographic focus restrict broader use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Paschall and Flewelling (1997) in Ethnicity and Disease or Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths (p. 122, available at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/YV_Compendium.pdf), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses recent behaviors to support positive development, emphasizing confidentiality and using culturally sensitive, age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking respondents to indicate the recency of each delinquent behavior or disciplinary action, using the recency scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-10 minutes, depending on the number of items and reading ability.
- Administer in a school, community center, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
Psychometric properties for the Disciplinary and Delinquent Behavior – SAGE Baseline Survey are not detailed in available sources, including Paschall and Flewelling (1997) or Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity metrics are not reported, likely due to its unpublished status and project-specific use. This absence limits confidence in its measurement accuracy.
Convergent validity is inferred from its focus on behaviors correlated with delinquency (r ≈ 0.30-0.50 with aggression or peer deviance), but without empirical data, this is speculative. Criterion validity is suggested by its use in identifying high-risk youth in SAGE evaluations. Factor analyses are not reported, and construct validity is unclear. The lack of psychometric data necessitates cautious use, supplemented by validated measures like the Self-Reported Delinquency Scale (Thornberry et al., 2003).
Available Versions
09-Items
Reference
Flewelling, R. L., Paschall, M. J., & Ringwalt, C. L. (1993). SAGE baseline survey. Research Triangle Park, NC: Research Triangle Institute.
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 Disciplinary and Delinquent Behavior Scale measure?
It measures recency of delinquent behaviors and school disciplinary actions.
Who can use the scale?
Researchers studying African-American males aged 12-16, though reliability is unestablished.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-10 minutes.
Is the scale specific to African-American males?
Yes, it targets males aged 12-16 in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but missing psychometric data requires cautious use with validated measures.
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