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Articles 1 - 21 of 21

Full-Text Articles in Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance

Predictors Of Fear And Risk Of Terrorism In A Rural State, David May, Joe Herbert, Kelly Cline, Ashley Nellis Nov 2011

Predictors Of Fear And Risk Of Terrorism In A Rural State, David May, Joe Herbert, Kelly Cline, Ashley Nellis

David May

This article examines attitudes about terrorism utilizing criminological literature about fear of crime and perceived risk of victimization and data from a statewide survey of 1,617 adults in Kentucky. Measures of both fear of terrorism and perceived risk of terrorism were geography based. The demographic variables had minimal impact on both perceived risk of terrorism and fear of terrorism, although gender was significantly related to both, suggesting a link based on socialization experiences of men and women. Although rural residence had a small but statistically significant relationship to perceived risk, it was not related to fear. The strongest predictor of …


Nonsocial Versus Social Reinforcers Contrasting Theoretical Perspectives On Repetitive Serious Delinquency And Drug Use, David May, Jennifer Stevens, Nancy Rice, G. Jarjoura Sep 2011

Nonsocial Versus Social Reinforcers Contrasting Theoretical Perspectives On Repetitive Serious Delinquency And Drug Use, David May, Jennifer Stevens, Nancy Rice, G. Jarjoura

David May

A wide variety of theoretical perspectives demonstrate an association with delinquency. Recently, a number of researchers have sought to integrate these theories into developmental models by which they explain different types of delinquency at different phases in the life-course. Using data from approximately 800 delinquents incarcerated in a Midwestern state, the authors continue those efforts by examining the association between delinquency and both nonsocial and social reinforcers over time. Their findings suggest that youth may begin their involvement in delinquency in pursuit of intrinsic gratification but continue that involvement because of the external gratification they receive from their peers. Implications …


Low Self-Control, Deviant Peer Associations, And Juvenile Cyberdeviance, David May, Adam Bossler, Thomas Holt Jun 2011

Low Self-Control, Deviant Peer Associations, And Juvenile Cyberdeviance, David May, Adam Bossler, Thomas Holt

David May

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (1990) general theory of crime and Akers’ (1998) social learning theory have received strong empirical support for explaining crime in both the physical and cyberworlds. Most of the studies examining cybercrime, however, have only used college samples. In addition, the evidence on the interaction between low self-control and deviant peer associations is mixed. Therefore, this study examined whether low self-control and deviant peer associations explained various forms of cyberdeviance in a youth sample. We also tested whether associating with deviant peers mediated the effect of low self-control on cyberdeviance as well as whether it conditioned the effect. …


Predicting Online Harassment Victimization Among A Juvenile Population, David May, Adam Bossler, Thomas Holt May 2011

Predicting Online Harassment Victimization Among A Juvenile Population, David May, Adam Bossler, Thomas Holt

David May

Online harassment can consist of threatening, worrisome, emotionally hurtful, or sexual messages delivered via an electronic medium that can lead victims to feel fear or distress much like real-world harassment and stalking. This activity is especially prevalent among middle and high school populations who frequently use technology as a means to communicate with others. Little is known, however, whether factors linked to computer crime victimization in college samples have the same influence in juvenile populations. The article discusses a study conducted utilizing a routine-activities framework that explored the online harassment experiences among middle and high school students and recruited 434 …


Responses To Scenarios That May Provoke Acts Of Conflict And Aggression Among The General Public: An Exploratory Study, David May, Nathan Lowe Apr 2011

Responses To Scenarios That May Provoke Acts Of Conflict And Aggression Among The General Public: An Exploratory Study, David May, Nathan Lowe

David May

The purpose of this article is to use empirical research and theory to investigate the context that may provoke individuals to engage in acts of conflict and aggression. A random sample of the general public from a midsouthern state was surveyed to explore this inquiry. Respondents were asked to indicate their level of reaction to a number of situations that often lead people to engage in conflict and/or aggression with other people. Several sociodemographic factors served as control variables in the study. The findings of the Pearson product—moment correlations suggest that respondents were more likely to report that they would …


Examining The Effect Of Correctional Programming On Perceptions Of Likelihood Of Recidivism Among Incarcerated Prisoners, David May, Timequa Brown Dec 2010

Examining The Effect Of Correctional Programming On Perceptions Of Likelihood Of Recidivism Among Incarcerated Prisoners, David May, Timequa Brown

David May

For many years, policymakers and criminal justice scholars have debated the impact of correctional programming on recidivism. This debate is currently unresolved. Using data from 1,234 currently incarcerated inmates in a mid-Southern state, this study examines whether inmates who participate in correctional programming while incarcerated are less likely to feel that they will recidivate upon release from prison. The findings from this research suggest that program participation while in prison has little impact on the inmates’ perceived recidivism, although important programming effects may still occur. Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.


Assessing Facilitator Performance As An Influence On Student Satisfaction, David May, Scotty Dunlap Dec 2010

Assessing Facilitator Performance As An Influence On Student Satisfaction, David May, Scotty Dunlap

David May

Growth in class size within the online environment has resulted in a facilitator model in which an instructor teaches the class with the assistance of facilitators who interact with students in smaller groups. This research sought to determine the effectiveness of a structured performance evaluation for facilitators and the correlation to student satisfaction.


Predictors Of Engagement In Acts Of Conflict And Aggression Among The General Public., David May, Nathan Lowe Dec 2010

Predictors Of Engagement In Acts Of Conflict And Aggression Among The General Public., David May, Nathan Lowe

David May

The purpose of this article is to use empirical research and theory to investigate the context that may provoke individuals to engage in acts of conflict and aggression. A random sample of the general public from a midsouthern state was surveyed to explore this inquiry. Respondents were asked to indicate their level of reaction to a number of situations that often lead people to engage in conflict and/or aggression with other people. Several sociodemographic factors served as control variables in the study. The findings of the Pearson product–moment correlations suggest that respondents were more likely to report that they would …


Exploring Parental Aggression Toward Teachers In A Public School Setting, David May, Yanfen Chen, Jerry Johnson, Lisa Hutchinson, Melissa Ricketts Dec 2009

Exploring Parental Aggression Toward Teachers In A Public School Setting, David May, Yanfen Chen, Jerry Johnson, Lisa Hutchinson, Melissa Ricketts

David May

Almost all of the extant research examining aggressive activity uses data from student populations. In this study, we extend that literature by examining teacher perceptions of parental aggression in public schools in Kentucky. Using data from a sample of 5,971 public school teachers, we determine that parental aggression directed at public school teachers is a rare event, and when it occurs, it is far more likely to be verbal than physical in nature. The multivariate results presented here further indicate that younger teachers, teachers with advanced degrees, and teachers from more heavily populated areas as more likely to have experienced …


A Gendered Assessment Of The "Threat Of Victimization", David May, Nicole Rader, Sarah Goodrum Dec 2009

A Gendered Assessment Of The "Threat Of Victimization", David May, Nicole Rader, Sarah Goodrum

David May

Rader has called for a change in how researchers study fear of crime, suggesting that fear of crime, perceptions of risk, and experiences with victimization are interrelated dimensions of the larger ‘‘threat of victimization’’ concept. In this study, the authors examine how each independent dimension affects additional theoretical dimensions of the ‘‘threat of victimization’’ and how these relationships vary by gender. Using data from residents of Kentucky, the authors estimate a series of multivariate linear and logistic regression models. The findings presented here suggest that gender differences do exist in the components of the threat of victimization and that many …


Increases In School Shootings: Reality Or Myth?, David May, Erin Kelley Dec 2009

Increases In School Shootings: Reality Or Myth?, David May, Erin Kelley

David May

No abstract provided.


College Students' Crime-Related Fears On Campus: Are Fear-Provoking Cues Gendered?, David May, Bonnie Fisher Jul 2009

College Students' Crime-Related Fears On Campus: Are Fear-Provoking Cues Gendered?, David May, Bonnie Fisher

David May

Gender plays a central role in the study of crime-related fear as does the description of various fear-provoking cues in the environment. Despite the ever-growing body of crime-related fear research, few researchers have examined which fear-provoking cues, if any, are gendered. Using a large sample of undergraduates from a public university, this article explores the gendered nature of fear-provoking cues and crime-related fears while on campus. Bivariate and multivariate results suggest that fear-provoking cues are not gendered for fear of larceny-theft or fear of assault. These results inform the fear of crime research on a number of dimensions and have …


Theoretical And Contextual Predictors Of Perceptions Of Criminal Justice Agents Among Juvenile Offenders, David May, Daniel Phillips, Elissa Johnson Dec 2008

Theoretical And Contextual Predictors Of Perceptions Of Criminal Justice Agents Among Juvenile Offenders, David May, Daniel Phillips, Elissa Johnson

David May

No abstract provided.


Examining Theoretical Predicators Of Substance Use Among A Sample Of Incarcerated Youth, David May, Kelly Cooper, Irina Soderstrom, G. Jarjoura Dec 2008

Examining Theoretical Predicators Of Substance Use Among A Sample Of Incarcerated Youth, David May, Kelly Cooper, Irina Soderstrom, G. Jarjoura

David May

A wide variety of theoretical perspectives have been found to have an association with substance abuse. Most of these studies use data from samples of public school students and thus capture only part of the youth population. Using data from approximately 800 delinquents incarcerated in a Midwestern state, we examine the association between attitudes about drug and alcohol use and use of drugs and four theoretical perspectives: nonsocial reinforcement theory, social learning theory, social control theory, and strain theory. Our findings suggest that nonsocial reinforcement is the best predictor of both preference for and use of illegal substances among this …


The Lesser Of Two Evils? A Qualitative Study Of Offenders' Preferences For Prison Compared To Alternatives, David May, Alisha Williams, Peter Wood Dec 2007

The Lesser Of Two Evils? A Qualitative Study Of Offenders' Preferences For Prison Compared To Alternatives, David May, Alisha Williams, Peter Wood

David May

Recent work has demonstrated that many offenders will choose to serve prison rather than any amount of a community-based sanction. This primarily quantitative research has found that offender-generated exchange rates are influenced by a wide variety of experiences and characteristics. Missing from this literature is a qualitative evaluation of why offenders might make this choice. We present qualitative data from 618 probationers and parolees to explain why those who have experienced imprisonment are less willing to serve community sanctions than their counterparts, and more willing to serve prison. Results hold implications for deterrence, recidivism, rehabilitation, and correctional policy issues.


Lessons Learned From Punishment Exchange Rates: Implications For Research, Theory, And Correctional Policy, David May, Peter Wood, Amy Eades Dec 2007

Lessons Learned From Punishment Exchange Rates: Implications For Research, Theory, And Correctional Policy, David May, Peter Wood, Amy Eades

David May

A growing number of studies have used exchange rates to examine perceptions of the punitivieness of prison when compared to alternative sanctions among prisoners, probationers, parolees, correctional professionals, and judges. Without exception, the findings from these research efforts call into question the punishment continuum that anchors probation as the least punitive sanction and prison as the most punitive. In this paper, we combine findings from these research efforts with data collected from 1271 adults to propose a revised continuum of punishment. Additionally, we provide a theoretical framework to help explain how offenders experience correctional sanctions, and offer suggestions for policy …


Offenders, Judges, And Officers Rate The Relative Severity Of Alternative Sanctions Compared To Prison, David May, Nathan Moore, Peter Wood Dec 2007

Offenders, Judges, And Officers Rate The Relative Severity Of Alternative Sanctions Compared To Prison, David May, Nathan Moore, Peter Wood

David May

Recent work suggests that offenders rate several alternatives as more severe than imprisonment. We build on this literature by comparing punishment exchange rates generated by criminal court judges with rates generated by offenders and their supervising officers. Findings reveal that none of the three groups rates prison as the most severe sanction and judges and officers rate alternatives as significantly less severe than offenders. Offenders are generally willing to serve less of each alternative to avoid imprisonment than judges or officers. Serving correctional sanctions thus appears to reduce the perceived severity of imprisonment and increase the perceived severity of alternatives.


Dealing With Misbehavior At Schools In Kentucky: Theoretical And Contextual Predicators Of Use Of Corporal Punishment, David May, Timothy Mcclure Dec 2007

Dealing With Misbehavior At Schools In Kentucky: Theoretical And Contextual Predicators Of Use Of Corporal Punishment, David May, Timothy Mcclure

David May

To test and compare theoretical explanations of the use of corporal punishment in school, the authors examine how well county-level measures of culture, socioeconomic strain, and social capital predict the prevalence and incidence of corporal punishment in Kentucky schools. Although several variables are significantly correlated with corporal punishment use, multivariate regression analyses reveal that high socioeconomic strain and low levels of social capital are the best predictors of (a) the prevalence of corporal punishment in a county’s public school system(s) and (b) a high incidence of corporal punishment in those counties where it is practiced. Explanations and practical implications of …


How Do Inmates Perceive Jail Conditions?: A View From Jail Administrators, David May, Rick Ruddell, Peter Wood Dec 2007

How Do Inmates Perceive Jail Conditions?: A View From Jail Administrators, David May, Rick Ruddell, Peter Wood

David May

Focuses on a study conducted which examines the perceptions of jail administrators about the hardships in jail incarceration. It is found that inmates view jail to be more punitive than prison. Further, it is noted that jail administrators have observed that often an inmate would prefer to be in a jail that is close to his family.


Student Weapon Possession And The “Fear And Victimization Hypothesis”: Unraveling The Temporal Order., David May, Pamela Wilcox, Staci Roberts Nov 2006

Student Weapon Possession And The “Fear And Victimization Hypothesis”: Unraveling The Temporal Order., David May, Pamela Wilcox, Staci Roberts

David May

Using longitudinal data from nearly 4,000 students across 113 public schools in Kentucky, we attempt to unravel the direction of the relationships between student weapon carrying and various objective and subjective school‐crime experiences, including victimization, perceived risk of school victimization, and fear of school victimization. Overall, we found little support for the idea that fear and victimization increase weapon carrying, controlling for other theoretically important predictors, including delinquent offending. While 7th‐grade victimization was modestly associated with increased non‐gun weapon carrying in 8th grade, high perceptions of individual victimization risk in 7th grade decreased both subsequent gun and non‐gun weapon carrying. …


Predictors Of Principals' Perceptions Of School Resource Officer Effectiveness In Kentucky, David May, Stephen Fessel, Shannon Means Dec 2003

Predictors Of Principals' Perceptions Of School Resource Officer Effectiveness In Kentucky, David May, Stephen Fessel, Shannon Means

David May

In recent years, many states have increased the presence of law enforcement at schools in response to a perception that schools have become unsafe places for children. The data regarding the impact of school resource officers (SROs) on school safety are limited, however. Using survey data collected from 128 principals, we examine the impact of SROs on perceptions of school safety among school administrators in Kentucky. Results indicate that most principals in Kentucky feel that SROs provide a valuable addition to school safety in their schools; however, the results also reveal the importance of communication between principals, SR Os, and …