MEASUREMENT IN THE STUDY OF CLASS AND DELINQUENCY - INTEGRATING THEORY AND RESEARCH

Correlational studies of the relationship between social class and cri me have tended to operationalize these concepts in a theoretical vacuu m rather than developing measures that are consistent with major theor ies in criminology. This article explores the possibility that inadequ ate measurement may explain past findings indicating no relationship b etween class and delinquency. To do this we measure class and delinque ncy in two ways. The first is consistent with the prior empirical lite rature on this topic and includes measure of class based on a status a ttainment model and an omnibus measure of delinquency. The second way, more consistent with theories of delinquency measures class using ind icators of sustained underclass status and delinquency as repeated inv olvement in more serious street crimes. The findings support our hypot heses. Relationships are weak when status attainment measures of class and omnibus measures of delinquency are used In contrast, the stronge st and most consistent class-crime associations are found between meas ures of continuing underclass status and sustained involvement in stre et crimes.