Self-Reported Offending (SRO) - Subject Baseline
This measure appears in the following time-points: Baseline.
Related Construct
Description of Measure
The Self-Reported Offending (SRO; Huizinga, Esbensen, & Weihar, 1991) was adapted for this study to measure the adolescent's account of involvement in antisocial and illegal activities. The SRO consists of 24-items which elicit subject involvement in different types of crime. For each endorsed item, a set of follow-up questions are triggered that collect more information regarding the reported offense (e.g., "How old were you the first time you did this?"; "How many times have you done this in the past year?"). The follow-up items can be used to identify whether the adolescent reports doing an act within the past six months or only prior to that period, as well as the age of onset and whether or not the act was committed alone or with a group.
Two of the 24 SRO-items ("ever went joyriding" and "ever broke into a car to steal") were added to the Pathways research battery after a large number of subjects had completed either baseline or six-month follow-up interviews. The introduction of these items produced a large amount of missing data at these two time points, making the calculation of a consistently meaningful score difficult across all available time points. As a result, in January, 2005, the working group decided that all SRO scores would be based on 22-items instead of the full, 24-item measure administered. Thus, although 24 items are administered for the vast proportion of the interviews, the calculation of the SRO score uses only 22 of these items.
Following the standard for reporting in criminology, self-reported offending can be characterized in two basic ways: a variety score (the number of different types of criminal acts in which the person engages) and frequency scores (the total number of unique criminal acts committed, regardless of type). Variety and frequency scores are generally very highly correlated and are often used interchangeably for analyses. The working group, however, decided to consistently report analyses using the variety score, with the option of reporting analyses using frequency scores when the question at hand required such considerations. Variety scores are calculated here as the proportion of endorsed items divided by the number of questions answered. Items that were not asked or for which the subject replied "don't know" are removed from the denominator.
The closer the proportion score is to "1", the greater the variety of offenses the youth has committed. The following variables are generated:
- Total Offending Variety - Ever [s0sroprv]; a proportion; the numerator is the number of different types of acts endorsed, regardless of when it was committed and the denominator is the number of items for which the subject gives either a "yes" or "no" answer. That is, all items which the subject refused to answer, replied "don't know", or was not asked are removed from the denominator. The closer this figure is to "1", the greater the variety of offenses the youth is committing.
- Total Offending Variety - past six months [s0sro6]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of acts which were committed in the prior six months. The denominator remains the same as in the total offending variety - ever.
- Total Offending Variety - acts beyond six months [s0sroev]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of acts which were committed more than six months ago. Excludes acts that were done within the past six months. The denominator remains the same as in the total offending variety-ever calculation.
- Total Offending Variety Proportion--No Drug - Ever [s0srsend]; a proportion score calculated in the same way as the Total Offending Variety Proportion - Ever variable, except that the items included in the calculation exclude three drug-related offenses (i.e., in recall period: sold marijuana, sold other illegal drugs, drove while drunk or high). The numerator is the number of acts endorsed and the denominator is the SRO items answered. Both numerator and denominator calculations are made using a set of items that excluded the three drug items.
- Total Offending Variety No Drug - past six months [s0sro6nd]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of acts which were committed in the prior six months, excluding the three drug-related offenses. The denominator remains the same as in the total offending variety no drug - ever.
- Total Offending Variety No Drug - acts beyond six months [s0sroend]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of acts which were committed more than six months ago, excluding the three drug-related offenses. Excludes acts that were done within the past six months. The denominator remains the same as in the total offending variety no drug - ever calculation.
- Frequency of Offending in the past year [s0srofrq]; the sum of the frequencies reported across 22 acts
- Frequency of Offending in the past year No drug [s0srofrqnd]; the sum of the frequencies reported across 19 non-drug items
Two sub-categories of Offending Variety are also computed: Aggressive Offending Variety (e.g., "Been in a fight?") and Income Offending Variety (e.g., "Used checks or credit cards illegally?"). These are calculated in the same manner as the variety score variables described above. That is, each of these scores is a proportion in which the numerator is the number of endorsed types of acts within the subcategory and the denominator is the number of items asked which are either aggressive offenses (for aggressive offending variety score) or income offenses (for income offending variety score). There are 11 SRO items which are coded as "aggressive", 10 SRO items which are coded as "income". Eight of the "income" items are used to calculate an "income - no drug" score as well. It should be noted that there is some overlap between the "aggressive" and "income" distinction. Specifically, the following two items are included in both the aggressive and income scales: "took something by force with a weapon" and "took something by force without a weapon".
Six scores can be generated for these categories of offending:
- Aggressive Offending Variety-Ever score [s0sroagg]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of endorsed acts within this category, regardless of when it was committed and the denominator is the number of aggressive offenses about which the youth is questioned. As with the total offending variety scores, for this score, all aggressive offenses for which the youth replies "don't know", refused to answer, or is not asked are removed from the denominator. There are a total of 11 offenses included which have been categorized as "aggressive".
- Aggressive Offending Variety - past six months [s0agg6]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of aggressive acts which were committed in the prior six months. The denominator remains the same as in the aggressive offending variety - ever calculation.
- Aggressive Offending Variety - acts beyond six months [s0aggev]; a proportion in which the numerator is a count of the acts which were committed more than six months ago. This score excludes acts that were done within the past six months. The denominator remains the same as in the aggressive offending variety-ever calculation.
- Aggressive Offending Variety Frequency - past year [s0aggfrq]
- Income Offending Variety-Ever score [s0sroinc]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of endorsed acts within this category, regardless of when it was committed and the denominator is the number of income offenses about which the youth is questioned. As is the case above, for this score, all income offenses for which the youth replies "don't know", refused to answer, or is not asked are removed from the denominator. There are a total of 11 offenses included which have been categorized as "income offenses.
- Income Offending Variety - past six months [s0inc6]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of income offenses which were committed in the prior six months. The denominator remains the same as in the income offending variety - ever calculation.
- Income Offending Variety - acts beyond six months [s0incev]; a proportion in which the numerator is a count of the acts which were committed more than six months ago. Excludes acts that were done within the past six months. The denominator remains the same as in the income offending variety-ever calculation.
- Income Offending Variety Proportion--No Drug - Ever [s0sroind]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of income offenses, exclusive of the 3 drug items, which were ever committed and the denominator is the items which are non-drug related income generating offenses that are not system missing.
- Income Offending Variety Proportion--No Drug - Past six months [s0inc6nd]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of income offenses, exclusive of the 3 drug items, which were committed in the past six months and the denominator is the items which are non-drug related income generating offenses that are not system missing.
- Income Offending Variety Proportion--No Drug - acts beyond six months [s0ievnd]; a proportion in which the numerator is the number of income offenses, exclusive of the 3 drug items, which were committed more than six months ago. Excludes acts that were done within the past six months. The denominator is the items which are non-drug related income generating offenses that are not system missing.
- Income Offending Frequency - past year [s0incfrq]
- Income Offending Frequency No Drug - past year [s0icfqnd].
Also computed is a variable which calculates the youngest age of the subject's first offense.
- Age At First Offense [S0Age1stOffense]; calculates youngest age based on 22 items which ask "How old were you when you first did this?"
The following individual items are also available:
- Whether the subject engaged in the 24 different antisocial acts in their lifetime.
- Destroyed/damaged property [S0SroS49]
- Set fire [S0SroS50]
- Broke in to steal [S0SroS51]
- Shoplifted [S0SroS52]
- Bought/received/sold stolen prop [S0SroS53]
- Used check/credit card illegally [S0SroS54]
- Stole car or motorcycle [S0SroS55]
- Sold marijuana [S0SroS56]
- Sold other drugs [S0SroS57]
- Carjacked [S0SroS58]
- Drove drunk or high [S0SroS59]
- Been paid by someone for sex [S0SroS60]
- Forced someone to have sex [S0SroS61]
- Killed someone [S0SroS62]
- Shot someone bullet hit [S0SroS63]
- Shot at someone no hit [S0SroS64]
- Took by force with a weapon [S0SroS65]
- Took by force without a weapon [S0SroS66]
- Beat up someone serious injury [S0SroS67]
- In a fight [S0SroS68]
- Beat someone as part of gang [S0SroS69]
- Carried a gun [S0SroS70]
- Broke into car to steal[S0SroS71]
- Went joyriding [S0SroS72]
- Frequency of committing each of the following acts over the past year.
- Destroy property [S0SROn49]
- Set fire [S0SROn50]
- Broke in to steal [S0SROn51]
- Shoplift [S0SROn52]
- Receive stolen prop [S0SROn53]
- Use credit card illegally [S0SROn54]
- Stole car [S0SROn55]
- Sold marijuana [S0SROn56]
- Sold other drug [S0SROn57]
- Carjacked [S0SROn58]
- Drove drunk [S0SROn59]
- Been paid by someone for sex [S0SROn60]
- Forced sex [S0SROn61]
- Killed someone [S0SROn62]
- Shot someone [S0SROn63]
- Shot at someone [S0SROn64]
- Robbery with weapon [S0SROn65]
- Robbery no weapon [S0SROn66]
- Beaten someone [S0SROn67]
- In fight [S0SROn68]
- Fight part of gang [S0SROn69]
- Carried gun [S0SROn70]
- Enter car to steal [S0SROn71]
- Gone joyriding [S0SROn72]
- Subject age the first time they engaged in each of the following acts.
- Destroy property [S0SROa49]
- Set fire [S0SROa50]
- Broke in to steal [S0SROa51]
- Shoplift [S0SROa52]
- Receive stolen prop [S0SROa53]
- Use credit card illegally [S0SROa54]
- Stole car [S0SROa55]
- Sold marijuana [S0SROa56]
- Sold other drug [S0SROa57]
- Carjacked [S0SROa58]
- Drove drunk [S0SROa59]
- Been paid by someone for sex [S0SROa60]
- Forced sex [S0SROa61]
- Killed someone [S0SROa62]
- Shot someone [S0SROa63]
- Shot at someone [S0SROa64]
- Robbery with weapon [S0SROa65]
- Robbery no weapon [S0SROa66]
- Beaten someone [S0SROa67]
- In fight [S0SROa68]
- Fight part of gang [S0SROa69]
- Carried gun [S0SROa70]
- Enter car to steal [S0SROa71]
- Gone joyriding [S0SROa72]
- When the subject last engaged in each act.
- Destroy property [S0SROl64]
- Set fire [S0SROl65]
- Broke in to steal [S0SROl66]
- Shoplift [S0SROl67]
- Receive stolen prop [S0SROl68]
- Use credit card illegally [S0SROl69]
- Stole car [S0SROl70]
- Sold marijuana [S0SROl71]
- Sold other drug [S0SROl72]
- Carjacked [S0SROl73]
- Drove drunk [S0SROl74]
- Been paid by someone for sex [S0SROl75]
- Forced sex [S0SROl76]
- Killed someone [S0SROl77]
- Shot someone [S0SROl78]
- Shot at someone [S0SROl79]
- Robbery with weapon [S0SROl80]
- Robbery no weapon [S0SROl81]
- Beaten someone [S0SROl82]
- In fight [S0SROl83]
- Fight part of gang [S0SROl84]
- Carried gun [S0SROl85]
- Enter car to steal [S0SROl86]
- Gone joyriding [S0SROl87]
- Whether the subject was alone or if someone was with them the last time they committed each of the following acts.
- Destroy property [S0SROg88]
- Set fire [S0SROg90]
- Broke in to steal [S0SROg92]
- Shoplift [S0SROg94]
- Receive stolen prop [S0SROg96]
- Use credit card illegally [S0SROg98]
- Stole car [S0SRO100]
- Sold marijuana [S0SRO102]
- Sold other drug [S0SRO104]
- Carjacked [S0SRO106]
- Drove drunk [S0SRO108]
- Been paid by someone for sex [S0SRO110]
- Forced sex [S0SRO112]
- Killed someone [S0SRO114]
- Shot someone [S0SRO116]
- Shot at someone [S0SRO118]
- Robbery with weapon [S0SRO120]
- Robbery no weapon [S0SRO122]
- Beaten someone [S0SRO124]
- In fight [S0SRO126]
- Fight part of gang [S0SRO128]
- Enter car to steal [S0SRO132]
- Gone joyriding [S0SRO134]
- Whether the subject had a gun with them the last time the committed the following acts.
- Carjacked [S0SRO107]
- Forced sex [S0SRO113]
- Killed someone [S0SRO115]
- Robbery with weapon [S0SRO121]
- Fight part of gang [S0SRO129]
The Self-Report of Offending (SRO) was used in both baseline and followup time points.
Data Issues
- It should be noted that the income offending and aggressive offending scores overlap on two items. Specifically, they both include S0SroS65 'Ever took by force w/ weapon' and S0SroS66 'Ever took by force no weapon'. This can be a problem because it will artificially increase the correlation between these two indicators. You will be less likely to get unique predictors and less likely to get discriminant variability when these two indicators are used in the same model.
- The following items are excluded for the "no drug" version of the variables:
- Ever sold marijuana
- Ever sold other illegal drugs
- Ever drove while drunk or high
- The following ten items are used in the income offending scores:
- Broke in to steal
- Shoplifted
- Bought/received/sold stolen prop
- Used check/credit card illegally
- Stole car or motorcycle
- Sold marijuana
- Sold other drugs
- Been paid by someone for sex
- Took by force with a weapon
- Took by force without a weapon
- The following 11 items are used in the aggressive offending scores:
- Destroyed/damaged property
- Set fire
- Forced someone to have sex
- Killed someone
- Shot someone bullet hit
- Shot at someone no hit
- Took by force with a weapon
- Took by force without a weapon
- Beat up someone serious injury
- In a fight
- Beat someone as part of gang
- Items "Enter car to steal" and "Joyriding" were added to the questionnaire later. Therefore there are 532 cases missing values for both of these two items at baseline, and 172 cases missing the Joyriding item at the follow06 time-point. The group decision to use only 22 items was made after an initial article was published by George Knight, Michelle Little and other on the measurement invariance of the SRO measure (published in Youth Violence, Juvenile Justice in 2004). In these analyses, the investigators ran confirmatory factor analyses with all of the data and estimated means and intercepts in AMOS. They then ran the confirmatory factor analyses with no missing data, and with those items excluded. There were no appreciable differences in the overall results. In the final runs, they estimated means and intercepts. If one is using females as a separate group in analyses regarding the SRO, caution should be exercised because there is considerable missing data in a small sample.
This issue was further discussed with the working group in August, 2004. At that time, the group decided to change the way the variety scores were calculated. Instead of continuing to use the "count" function to calculate these scores, the group decided to switch to a proportion. That is, the score becomes the number of endorsed items divided by the number of items asked (in most cases 24 items, but in some, 22 items or fewer were asked).
- There are missing values for 2 cases (1259 and 1834) for all other variables. These 2 cases are missing SRO data despite having completed the full interview. We do not know why this happened.
- It should also be noted that each of the 24-gated items are structured as 'ever' questions ('Have you ever ...'), while the frequency follow-up question associated with the gates are structured as 'in the past year' ('In the past year, how many times have you ...').
- The question "Did you have a gun with you the last time" is only asked for a sub-set of the 24 SRO items. Specifically, carjacking, forced sex, killed someone, robbed someone with a weapon, and been in a fight as part of a gang. For all other SRO acts, this question is not asked.
- The question "was anyone with you the last time" is not asked for the "Carried a gun" question, but is available for all other SRO items.
References
- Elliot, D. S. ( 1990 ). National Youth Survey . Institute of Behavioral Science. University of Colorado.
- Delbert S. Elliott, David Huizinga, and Scott Menard (1989) Multiple Problem Youth: Delinquency, Substance Use, and Mental Health Problems(New York: Springer-Verlag).
- Huizinga, D., Esbensen, F., & Weihar, A. (1991). Are there multiple paths to delinquency? Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 82, 83-118.