An experimental study of attitudes toward juvenile delinquency

Abstract

Psychologists, sociologists, juvenile judges, and graduate students were asked to rate 14 forms of delinquent behavior. A scale was developed, using Thurstone's technique of paired comparison, showing murder as the most serious offense and truancy as the least serious. This scale is regarded as having the advantage of measuring more inclusive behavior and practically avoids "limitations of judgments of seriousness based on circumstances or motives for offenses." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)