Haynie, D. L., Alexander, C., & Walters, S. R. (1997). Considering a decision-making approach to youth violence prevention programs. The Journal of School Health, 67(5), 165-170.
The theme or key idea for this article was the examination adolescent's ability to utilize decision-making skills to manage interpersonal conflict.
The problem studied was violence among youths, which has increased in spite of the general downturn in general violent crime. Schools are the location of much of this violence and adolescents need to be assessed for their decision-making skills, which may be related to their ability to handle conflict and avoid violence.
Hypotheses for this study were not formally stated.
Research questions for this study were not formally stated, however, a link between cognitive abilities, decision-making, and the making of health-related decisions is made, and a pilot study was designed to determine ways adolescents think about situations of social conflict.
The predictions for this study were not formally stated, however, since earlier studies linked cognitive abilities and decision making, it was implied that these abilities would lead to healthy decision-making.
The article provided an adequate bibliography to support the factors studied and the need for the study, and to address conclusions related to previous findings.
The sample for the study included 78 participating students in a Baltimore middle school (inner city sixth and seventh graders). In this pilot study, subjects completed a one-on-one interview with a trained graduate student, prior to participation in a Healthy Transitions program.
The study findings were consistent with some previous findings, adolescent cognitive abilities were linked to decision-making, however in some cases students with apparent abilities were unable to view accurate consequences, which was not consistent with previous study results.
Falsification principles ...