Students’ Perceptions of School Legitimacy

• In Event: Investigations of School Crime Across Multiple Data Sources

Abstract

The importance of clarity of school rules and fairness of school rule enforcement has been clearly demonstrated in past research. We examine this process further, through a school legitimacy lens. Using a large nationally representative data set, we will ask the following questions: (1) Do students trust their school's teachers and administrators?; (2) Do students perceive school processes as legitimate?; and (3) Do student perceptions of school legitimacy impact student delinquency and victimization?

Authors

• Lauren Duhaime, George Mason University

• Allison Payne, Villanova University