Psychology RootsFriends’ Delinquent Behavior – Denver Youth Survey
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About Friends’ Delinquent Behavior – Denver Youth Survey
Scale Name
Friends’ Delinquent Behavior – Denver Youth Survey
Author Details
Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado (1987)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Friends’ Delinquent Behavior – Denver Youth Survey, developed by the Institute of Behavioral Science in 1987, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure a respondent’s knowledge of their friends’ involvement in vandalism, violence, and drug use during the past year among African-American males aged 12-16 in urban settings. Part of the Denver Youth Survey, a longitudinal study of delinquency and risk factors, the scale aligns with social learning theory, which posits that peer influence significantly shapes delinquent behavior (Akers, 1977). The scale was used to assess peer delinquency as a risk factor for youth violence and substance use in high-risk urban communities, as cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005).
The scale comprises 8 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “none of them” to 5 = “all of them”), assessing the proportion of friends engaging in specific delinquent acts (e.g., “How many of your friends have purposely damaged or destroyed property?” or “How many of your friends have used illegal drugs?”). Scores are summed (range: 8-40), with higher scores indicating greater perceived peer delinquency. Validated in urban African-American male samples, it is used to study peer influences, predict individual delinquency, and inform prevention programs.
Psychologists, criminologists, and public health researchers use the scale to assess peer delinquency, evaluate intervention effectiveness, and explore social risk factors. Its high internal consistency and cultural specificity are strengths, though its English-only availability, male-only focus, and reliance on self-reports may limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from primary sources, such as 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 their friends’ behaviors to understand social influences, emphasizing confidentiality and using culturally sensitive, age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking respondents to rate the proportion of their friends involved in each delinquent act over the past year, using the 5-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-5 minutes, given its brevity and straightforward items.
- Administer in a school, community center, 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 Friends’ Delinquent Behavior – Denver Youth Survey demonstrates strong psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89, indicating excellent item cohesion for an 8-item scale. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate to high based on similar peer delinquency measures (r ≈ 0.70-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as respondents’ own delinquency (r ≈ 0.40-0.60) and exposure to deviant peers, consistent with social learning theory. Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic achievement (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict individual delinquent outcomes in longitudinal Denver Youth Survey analyses. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional structure supports construct validity. The high reliability makes it a robust tool, though it should be paired with multi-informant data (e.g., parent or teacher reports) to mitigate self-report biases.
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 Friends’ Delinquent Behavior Scale measure?
It measures respondents’ knowledge of friends’ vandalism, violence, and drug use.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, criminologists, and researchers studying African-American males aged 12-16.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-5 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, it identifies peer influences with high reliability (α = 0.89).
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