Web Researcher

Instructions (24.0K)

Web Researcher Question:

Use the Internet to gather crime statistics on age differences or over-time trends in internalizing problems (such as suicide), and externalizing problems (such as violent behavior) and the use of drugs or alcohol.

Background Information:

Various government agencies have compiled information on a whole range of psychosocial problems, from depression and sexual victimization to violence and homicide. These sites will get you started, but if you don't find information on the topic you want, search the sites.

• National Criminal Justice Reference Service:
• The Growth of Youth Gang Problems in the United States: 1970–98, Part 1 and Part 2.
• Indicators of School Crime and Safety
• Child Stats provides information on:
• Health Indicators: You might particularly want to look at information on adolescent mortality, accidents, and births
• Behavior and Social Indicators: This includes information on both substance use and violence
• National Institute of Child Health and Development
• Risk and protective factors
• National Institute of Mental Health
• Facts about depression, including physician fact sheets, and suicide
• Surgeon General
• The Surgeon General's report on mental health has an entire chapter on children and adolescents, including suicide, anxiety, ADHD
• She has also issued a recent report on Youth Violence.

The American Psychological Association provides information on a range of topics through their Help Center pertaining to a range of issues relevant to adolescent psychosocial problems. This is more help oriented than research oriented, but is an excellent resource.

1		15-year-old Jeff often skips school and has been caught shoplifting several times. Jeff's behavior could be a symptom of what kind of problem?
			A)	Internalizing disorder
			B)	Externalizing disorder
			C)	Comorbid disorder
2		According to Jessor's problem behavior theory, what is the underlying cause of externalizing problems during adolescence?
			A)	Substance abuse
			B)	Uninvolved parents
			C)	Rebellion against strict parents
			D)	Unconventionality in the adolescent's personality and social environment
3		Based on the research presented in the textbook, what is the most important finding regarding adolescent substance use?
			A)	A large percentage of adolescents use cocaine regularly.
			B)	Very few adolescents smoke cigarettes.
			C)	Experimentation with drugs begins at an earlier age now than it did in the past.
4		Which of the following statements about adolescent substance use is true?
			A)	Marijuana is an inevitable stepping stone to hard drug use.
			B)	Adolescents who experiment with alcohol and marijuana may be somewhat better adjusted than their peers who are complete abstainers.
			C)	Substance abuse during adolescence is rarely related to psychological well-being during childhood.
5		What have researchers found when they have directly asked adolescents about their involvement in status or criminal offenses? Check all that apply.
			A)	A very large proportion of adolescents have participated in delinquent behavior at one time or another.
			B)	Ethnic differences in the prevalence of delinquent activity are smaller than what is suggested by police records.
			C)	There are no social class differences in serious criminal activity.
			D)	Minority youth are far more likely to be arrested and treated harshly by the juvenile justice system.
6		Ryan participates in antisocial and delinquent behavior as an adolescent and is diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder as an adult. He also engages in criminal activity as an adult. What term best describes Ryan's behavior?
			A)	Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
			B)	Hostile attributional bias
			C)	Life-course persistent antisocial behavior
			D)	Adolescence-limited antisocial behavior
7		Who is most likely to experience depression?
			A)	Adam, a 7 year old male.
			B)	Kelly, a 7 year old female.
			C)	Dale, a 14 year old male.
			D)	Bonnie, a 14 year old female.
8		Which of the following statements about adolescent suicide is true?
			A)	The adolescent suicide rate has greatly increased in the last 40 years.
			B)	Breaking up with a significant other is a common cause of adolescent suicide attempts.
			C)	Attempted suicide is more common for adolescent boys and completed suicide is more common for adolescent girls.
9		Gould found that adolescent suicides happen in clusters more often than would be expected by chance. What are the implications of her finding?
			A)	The publicity surrounding adolescent suicide should be increased.
			B)	The publicity surrounding adolescent suicide should be decreased.
			C)	The publicity surrounding adolescent suicide is not related to the clustering of adolescent suicide.
10		Michael is worried about his upcoming tryout for All-District Band. Instead of practicing his trumpet, he decides to go to a party to try to calm his nerves. What coping strategy is he using and how effective is the strategy?
			A)	Problem-focused coping; more effective
			B)	Emotion-focused coping; more effective
			C)	Problem-focused coping; less effective
			D)	Emotion-focused coping; less effective.