You are here

FAU Collections » FAU Research Repository » FAU Theses and Dissertations

VANDALISM IN SELECTED FLORIDA SCHOOLS

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
1976
Summary:
The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between the rate (cost and incidence) of vandalism and nine characteristics of the average public school. The characteristics selected were: 1. Stability of instructional staff 2. Racial balance in the school 3. Number of students transported to the school 4. Academic achievement of students in the school 5. Income of students' parents 6. Job status of students' parents 7. Geographic location of the school 8. Community school or not a community school 9. Student withdrawal from school. These factors were stated in a null hypothsis form. All variables were tested separately against cost of vandalism and incidence of vandalism. In all analyses involving a correlation coefficient as a test of the hypothesis, the Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient was used since either one or both variables were ordinal in nature. In all analyses involving the t test (where two groups were tested), a program for the t test based on estimates of the separate group variances and an adjusted degrees of freedom was used since the within group variances tended to be heterogeneous. Ten school districts in the State of Florida were purposively selected for the study giving a total of 375 schools. The districts were selected to provide a diversity in geographic location, population size, average family income, percent urban, median education, and number of white collar workers. The geometric growth of the cost of vandalism is shown in this study and some of the measures being used to combat vandalism. An examination of the results shows that the factors wherein the school system might have some control include the following: teacher replacement, school academic scores, withdrawal of students, and community schools. In these instances no significant relationship to the rate of vandalism was apparent. The variables that did show a statistically significant relationship are: high percent of minority students, inner-city schools, a low percent of transported students, and schools where 30 percent or more of the parents had an income of less than $3,000. These factors are social conditions over which the schools have no direct control.
Title: VANDALISM IN SELECTED FLORIDA SCHOOLS.
137 views
49 downloads
Name(s): BOWER, RUTH, author
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
McCleary, Edward J., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1976
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 155 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between the rate (cost and incidence) of vandalism and nine characteristics of the average public school. The characteristics selected were: 1. Stability of instructional staff 2. Racial balance in the school 3. Number of students transported to the school 4. Academic achievement of students in the school 5. Income of students' parents 6. Job status of students' parents 7. Geographic location of the school 8. Community school or not a community school 9. Student withdrawal from school. These factors were stated in a null hypothsis form. All variables were tested separately against cost of vandalism and incidence of vandalism. In all analyses involving a correlation coefficient as a test of the hypothesis, the Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient was used since either one or both variables were ordinal in nature. In all analyses involving the t test (where two groups were tested), a program for the t test based on estimates of the separate group variances and an adjusted degrees of freedom was used since the within group variances tended to be heterogeneous. Ten school districts in the State of Florida were purposively selected for the study giving a total of 375 schools. The districts were selected to provide a diversity in geographic location, population size, average family income, percent urban, median education, and number of white collar workers. The geometric growth of the cost of vandalism is shown in this study and some of the measures being used to combat vandalism. An examination of the results shows that the factors wherein the school system might have some control include the following: teacher replacement, school academic scores, withdrawal of students, and community schools. In these instances no significant relationship to the rate of vandalism was apparent. The variables that did show a statistically significant relationship are: high percent of minority students, inner-city schools, a low percent of transported students, and schools where 30 percent or more of the parents had an income of less than $3,000. These factors are social conditions over which the schools have no direct control.
Identifier: 11697 (digitool), FADT11697 (IID), fau:8629 (fedora)
Degree granted: Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1976.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): College of Education
Subject(s): School vandalism--Florida
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11697
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.