Developing Invariant Short-Form Measures of Key Risk Factors for Juvenile Delinquency

• In Event: Making the Most of Survey Measures in Criminal Justice Research

Abstract

Objective: Risk factors are a key component to predicting and preventing juvenile delinquency. However, survey length can be a pressing concern when developing screening measures to assess needs among youth. Therefore, there is need to develop shorter form scales (approximately 5 items) that can reliably assess key risk factors such as oppositional defiance and aggression. Methods: This study uses data from the Helping Improve Pathways to Success (N=2,067) and IRT methods to examine items for scales commonly used to assess oppositional defiance and aggression. Items are tested for redundancy, invariance across gender and grade, and how well they discriminate across the latent construct. Results: Preliminary results have used EFA and CFA to determine factor structure and IRT DIF analyses to assess invariance across key demographics. Conclusions: Results from this study will help create short, 5-item measures that can screen for these risk factors across the full range of the latent constructs, and that are consistent across gender and development.

Authors

• Savanna Allen, Arizona State University

• Dustin Pardini, Arizona State University