BACKGROUND: The self-report method is widely used to measure offending. Previous studies suggest that it is generally valid, but that its validity may be lower for blacks than for whites. AIM To assess the validity of self-reported offending in relation to court referrals, and to investigate how it varies with types of offences, sex and race. METHOD: Annual court and self-report data were collected between ages 11 and 17 for eight offences in the Seattle Social Development Project, which is a prospective longitudinal survey of 808 youths. RESULTS: Self-reports predicted future court referrals. Predictive validity was highest for drug offences, for males and for whites, and lowest for females and Asians. The probability of youths with a court referral reporting offences and arrests was highest for drug offences, for males, for whites and for blacks. Retrospective ages of onset agreed best with prospective ages for drug offences, Asians and whites. More Asians than blacks or whites failed retrospectively to report offences that had been reported prospectively. CONCLUSIONS: The validity of self-reports of offending was high, especially for drug offences, for males and for whites. Contrary to prior research, validity was high for black males. It was lowest for Asian females. Sex and race differences in validity held up after controlling for socioeconomic status. Differential validity probability did not reflect police bias.
BACKGROUND: The self-report method is widely used to measure offending. Previous studies suggest that it is generally valid, but that its validity may be lower for blacks than for whites. AIM To assess the validity of self-reported offending in relation to court referrals, and to investigate how it varies with types of offences, sex and race. METHOD: Annual court and self-report data were collected between ages 11 and 17 for eight offences in the Seattle Social Development Project, which is a prospective longitudinal survey of 808 youths. RESULTS: Self-reports predicted future court referrals. Predictive validity was highest for drug offences, for males and for whites, and lowest for females and Asians. The probability of youths with a court referral reporting offences and arrests was highest for drug offences, for males, for whites and for blacks. Retrospective ages of onset agreed best with prospective ages for drug offences, Asians and whites. More Asians than blacks or whites failed retrospectively to report offences that had been reported prospectively. CONCLUSIONS: The validity of self-reports of offending was high, especially for drug offences, for males and for whites. Contrary to prior research, validity was high for black males. It was lowest for Asian females. Sex and race differences in validity held up after controlling for socioeconomic status. Differential validity probability did not reflect police bias.
Authors: Kendell L Coker; Philip H Smith; Alexander Westphal; Howard V Zonana; Sherry A McKee Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2014-06-12 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Erika Alejandra Giraldo Gallo; Ana Maria B Menezes; Joseph Murray; Luciana Anselmi Duarte da Silva; Fernando César Wehrmeister; Helen Gonçalves; Fernando Barros Journal: Cad Saude Publica Date: 2016-08-29 Impact factor: 1.632
Authors: A Hemphill Sheryl; M Plenty Stephanie; Todd I Herrenkohl; John W Toumbourou; Richard F Catalano Journal: Child Youth Serv Rev Date: 2014-01-01
Authors: Sheryl A Hemphill; Todd I Herrenkohl; Stephanie M Plenty; John W Toumbourou; Richard F Catalano; Barbara J McMorris Journal: J Community Psychol Date: 2012-04-01
Authors: Edward D Barker; Jean R Séguin; Helene Raskin White; Marsha E Bates; Eric Lacourse; René Carbonneau; Richard E Tremblay Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2007-05