Development of Scale for Measuring Media Violence Factor Related to Juvenile Delinquency

Kim, Hun Soo; Kim, Hyun Sil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The concern about possible links between media violence in such as TV, video and real violence has been most pointedly voiced by parents, teachers and social scientists. The result of social science research also has been consistent with the conclusion that viewing criminal and violent behavior on television can, under some conditions, cause some children and young adults to behave aggressively. Therefore, the aim of this study was intended to develop an instrument for assessing the influence of the media violence on juvenile delinquency.
METHODS
This study was methodological research for developing the measuring instrument for assessing media violent factor related to juvenile delinquency. Through the relevant literature review and personal interview using open-ended question with 12 adolescents in schools, outpatient clinics and juvenile corrective institutions, the author developed a preliminary questionnaire with 37 items for measuring media violence factor influenced upon juvenile delinquency. For evaluating this questionnaire, statistical method employed were test-retest reliability, factor analysis for construct validity and t-test for mean difference between student adolescents and delinquent adolescents, using SAS program. Subjects served for this study consisted of 2,177 adolescents including 1,206 students and 971 delinquent adolescents by proportional stratified random sampling method.
RESULTS
1) Four stable factors were extracted and these contributed 50.2% of the variance in the total score. All 37 items loaded above .40 on each respective factor. 2) Factor I was named as modelling to media violence (13 items), factor II was named as exposure to media violence (14 items), factor III was named as interest to media violence (5 items), and factor IV was named as catharsis due to media violence(5 items). 3) Comparison of these factors between student adolescents and delinquent adolescents showed that there was significant differences in factor I[t=-29.71 (student), -30.24(delinquent), p=0.0001], factor II [t=-22.42(student), -22.07(delinquent), p=.0001], factor III[t=-5.47(student), -5.39(delinquent), p=.0001], and total score [t=-24.33(student), -24.24(delinquent), p=.0000]. 4) Cronbach's alpha coefficiency for internal consistency was .93 for total 37 items, and .900, .906, .737 and .614 for each 4 factors of media violence related to juvenile delinquency.
CONCLUSIONS
hrough comparison study using this scale between student adolescents and delinquent adolescents, the delinquent adolescent showed higher score in media violence factors than student adolescents. Therefore, the author suggested that this scale has high reliability and validity suitable for measuring the influence of media violence upon juvenile delinquency.