Wikstrom - Peterborough Youth study

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  • Created by: Steff06
  • Created on: 14-04-16 18:09
What are the aims of Wikstrom's research?
To study range of factors+identify which are the most significant in predicting the future criminality of individuals.Study interaction between individual's life-style risk+influence on offending.Factors are poverty, disadvantages+substance abuse.
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Describe the design of the study
Snapshot study. Questionnaires conducted in 2000-2001. 92% response rate. 20% of original sample interviewed about a week's activities.Data on Peterborough obtained through 1991 census.Violence,vandalism,shoplifting,burglary,theft all studied.
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Who were the participants of Wikstrom's study?
Almost 2000 (1957) 14-15 year old students. From 13 state schools in the Peterborough area.
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What were the findings found?
44.8% males+30.6% females committed at least 1 of studied crimes during 2000.9.8% males+3.8% females committed serious crime of theft.High frequency offenders commit wide range of crimes. 1 in 8 offenders reported/caught by police for last crime.
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Continue with findings
Violent offenders more likely to be victims of violence. Offenders are more often drunk and more often use drugs than other youths.
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What factors may predispose to criminal activity?
Family social position(social class,ethnicity),individual characteristics(self-control,morality,truancy),social situation(bonds,monitoring),lifestyle+routine activities,community contexts(neighbourhood disadvantages).
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What risk factors were most important and what did having more risk factors mean?
More risk factors=more likely to offend. Key risks are weak family and school bonds,poor parental monitoring, truancy, weak morality, poor self-control.
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What was surprisingly not a strong predictor of delinquency and what was found about lower social classes?
Social disadvantage was not a strong predictor of delinquency. Those from a lower social class had more risk factors than others.
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What groups did the findings suggest the presence of?
Propensity-induced, lifestyle-dependent, situationally-limited.
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Who was in the propensity induced group?
It is a personality of characteristic which causes them to offend. Small group, but responsible for high number of serious offences. Wide range of risk factors.
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Who was in the lifestyle-dependent group of offenders?
Offending is highly dependent on lifestyle. Low risk lifestyle rarely offend, those with high risk lifestyle frequently offend. High risk are those spending large amount of time on peer-centered activities in public.
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Who was in the situationally-limited group?
Individually well-adjusted youths who may occasionally offend if their lifestyle exposes them to high levels of situational risk. Substance abuse explains little offending. Will not develop serious criminality problems.
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What are the protective factors?
Strong family bonds, parental monitoring, good school attendance.
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Card 2

Front

Describe the design of the study

Back

Snapshot study. Questionnaires conducted in 2000-2001. 92% response rate. 20% of original sample interviewed about a week's activities.Data on Peterborough obtained through 1991 census.Violence,vandalism,shoplifting,burglary,theft all studied.

Card 3

Front

Who were the participants of Wikstrom's study?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What were the findings found?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Continue with findings

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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