Farrugia, Michelle (2014) Evaluating the validity and reliability of the Young Offender Behaviour Scale. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Young offender recidivism is a risk to the community and the offender. This study aims to cross-validate the Young Offender Behaviour Scale (YOBS), which is an assessment instrument designed to identify the antisocial behaviour trajectory of an adolescent offender. The study will determine if the YOBS can detect group differences between incarcerated and community samples and demonstrate structural validity across these different sample types. In addition, a short-form of the YOBS (YOBS-SF) will be investigated as a valid alternative to the long-form. One hundred and sixty-seven Australian university students, aged 15 to 63 years (M = 29, SD = 10.4), were randomly assigned to complete either the YOBS-SF or the original version (Scale A and B). Archival data, from a Canadian community sample and a Canadian adolescent incarcerated sample, was compared to the Australian community sample scores. Comparisons between scale totals and subscale totals were used along with an exploratory factor analysis to determine both construct validity and structural validity of the YOBS. The validity of the YOBS-SF was determined through comparing correlations between each of the scales and establishing a preliminary factor structure for the YOBS-SF. The YOBS was sensitive to differences between the incarcerated and community samples. Factor analysis supported the structural validity of the Antisocial Behaviour Scale (Scale A). Further investigation into the structural validity of the Criminal History Scale (Scale B) was recommended as the community and incarcerated samples supported different factor structures. Preliminary support was established for the YOBS-SF validity, based on its factor structure, with further exploration suggested to increase the reliability of these findings. Further development of the YOBS is encouraged as targeted treatment based on valid antisocial behaviour assessment provides a responsive strategy to decrease the risk of recidivism.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology, Counselling and Community (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2014) |
| Supervisors: | Suzanne Czech |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Sep 2025 02:26 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Sep 2025 02:26 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52311 |
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