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A Slang Vocabulary Test as an Indicator of Delinquent Association
Author(s) -
GIBSON H. B.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
british journal of social and clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0007-1293
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1964.tb00404.x
Subject(s) - slang , vocabulary , test (biology) , psychology , association (psychology) , developmental psychology , linguistics , paleontology , philosophy , psychotherapist , biology
The rationale of the Slater Selective Vocabulary Test was followed in devising a test which would indicate habitual delinquent association. Pilot work gave a list of slang words likely to be especially familiar to delinquent boys, and a test instrument was composed of these words buffered with items from the Mill Hill Vocabulary Scale. This instrument gives separate measures of knowledge of delinquent slang and of general vocabulary level. The test was administered to groups of normal and delinquent boys, and factor analysis of the results indicated that slang knowledge exists somewhat independently of general vocabulary knowledge. The delinquent group had a significantly greater slang knowledge relative to their vocabulary level than the normal boys. Proposals for further use of the technique are discussed.