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Research design & literature review on why young men join gangs.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Research design & literature review on why young men join gangs. Cites nature & changing image of gangs. Historical definitions of gangs; their characteristics; family factors. Focus on current delinquent gang activities that are criminal & threaten the greater society. Discusses different theories. Includes Methodology, Research Design, sample & data analyses to be used, Survey instruments. 1 Table.
Paper Introduction:
INTRODUCTION
Chapter One
Statement of the Problem
History of Gangs
The term "gang" originally had no negative connotations. In Old English, the term simply referred to a number of people who went around together as a group (Osman, 1999). Today, a gang is commonly defined in four ways:
1. An organized group with a leader.
2. A unified group that usually remains together during peaceful times as well as times of conflict.
3. A group whose members show unity through their language and clothing.
4. A group whose activities are criminal and threatening to
Text of the Paper:
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& Gallo, P.S. In 1991, the U. Please answer each questionbelow to the best of your ability. As might be expected from the foregoing list of characteristics,gangs are wreaking havoc on American public schools. The third and final section of the review develops conclusionsabout gangs and the needs thesis. Washington, DC: Department ofJustice. Gangs and schools. There are no "right" answers. Will gang members' ratings of the extent to which their familymeets their need for acceptance be the same or higher than their ratings ofthe extent to which their family meets these needs? 5. Chapter Two REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Introduction The proposed research will examine whether young boys are attractedto gangs because they meet needs which are not met by their families. A history of serious criminal or violent behavior. Thesegangs were formed as the result of a worsening economy and a growingpopulation that increased competition for jobs; soon, gangs began tospecialized in crime and became a part of America's cities (Quicker, 1983). Street corner society. These lists will both be numbered, and a random numbers table willbe used to select 5 students from each list for a total sample size of 1 students. In summary then, gangs appear to have certain identifiablecharacteristics. ED 372 175). Huff (Ed.), Gangs in America(pp. At the sametime, the term "gang" was also becoming associated with groups in sociallydisorganized and deteriorated inner-city neighborhoods; it was applied toyouths who engaged in delinquencies ranging from truancy, street brawls,and beer running to race riots, robberies, and other serious crimes. Data Collection Procedures Gang members will be asked to complete a researcher-designedquestionnaire assessing the extent to which they feel their family andtheir gang meet several needs. 8. It can also be concluded that the existing research provides at leastsome support for the notion that gang members have needs that are not beingmet by their families and that are being met by the gang. Prior to the early 18 s, no gangs fitting thisdefinition could be found in America. Strong group identification with a local territory. These are the needs for: acceptance; personal recognition; asense of belonging; food, shelter and clothing; respect; and unconditionallove. (199 ). There are many characteristics of gangs that help in givingdefinition to the term, although there is no accepted standard definitionof a gang. National tracking of gangs proposed. Sample There will be a total of 1 males (all between the ages of 14 and 18years) who will serve as subjects in the study. 5 significance level. Ongoing interaction. 3. Over the lastseveral decades, there has been a good deal of theoretical and empiricalresearch attempting to answer this question (e.g., Whyte, 1955; Haskell &Yablonsky, 1982; Campbell, 199 ; Thornberry, Krohn, Lizotte & Chard-Wierschem, 1993). (1999). In some recent research on associations between gangs and family,Gilyard (1999) studied gangs in a southeastern city int he United Statesinterviewing gang members, their parents, and professionals who were askedto respond to questions and statements relating to the behavior andattitude of gangs as they related to family, community, and school life.Findings were said to show that it is the family that basically establishesthe culture of gangs. All of the study's t-test analyses will be conducted using theconvention . Statistics: Meaning and methods. Gang activity was now centered,in far great part, around large-scale, well-organized street fighting.Firearms were used more often. (1995). It was at this point that society at largebecame strongly concerned with gangs as a social problem and started towork together toward rehabilitation of gang members. References Arthur, R., & Erickson, E. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 3 (1), 39-5 . Perceptions of adolescent gang members in regardto gang membership and activities. Campbell, A. Will gang members' ratings of the extent to which their familymeets their need for respect be the same or higher than their ratings ofthe extent to which their family meets these needs? Gangs, Drugs and Violence...REST OF REFERENCEMISSING FROM PROVIDED MATERIALS. A group whose activities are criminal and threatening to thelarger society. Are gangs actually replacing the family andwhat is the attraction to gangs? If young males are not getting what theyneed form their families, do they turn to a gang? Specifically, urban gang members showed an absence of remorse, andempathic response toward the infliction of injury, or death to anotherperson. Linton, M. The competition between gangs and schools.Dissertation Abstracts International, 6 (8-A), p. Hensell, H,. Organization. Another finding for urban youth was a complete lack of familialresponse and involvement. School crime: Anational crime victimization survey report. (1991, September). It is, however, possible that the connection between family life andthe attraction of gangs may be more pronounced for urban rather than ruralgangs. Today's gangs, according to Burnett and Walz (1999) are also moreviolent than in the past and use far more drugs and alcohol. The James gang, which wrecked and robbed trains inthe late nineteenth century Midwest, contributed to early perceptions ofthe nature of gangs. Should the research showthis to be true, how can this be changed so that the high school males whoare in gangs will return back to their families to have their needs met? It can be noted that the questionnaire is dividedinto two parts. During the 195 s, gang fighting rose to an all time high in citieslike New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angels, andCleveland. The gang: A study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago.Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Whyte, W.F. (199 ). In C.R. This image ofgangs stressed youth groups as being localized and territory-based, withsocial organizational traditions and with group awareness and moralefostered through conflict with authorities and other gangs. Meeting face to face. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. There have been gangs in the United States throughout the twentiethcentury. Indeed, most of us at one time have been a member of a group,club, or clique (group of friends). 2866. 81. The first section of the reviewdiscusses the basic nature of gangs. One of these was that urban gang-affiliated youth come from more dysfunctional homes, were more violent, andhad far less interest and hope for educational success. Dissertation Abstracts International, 6 (6-A). According to Gilyard, home life creates the values,communication styles, and discipline techniques that gang members take intothe community and then into school. Thrasher. The family's impact on juveniledelinquency. (1955). Also, they nowuse sophisticated communications devices and automatic weapons, know how toemploy guerrilla warfare-like tactics, and show a deeper disregard forhuman life than in the years previously. Part I requires ratings of gangs while Part II requiresratings of families. Will gang members ratings of the extent to which their familymeets their needs for acceptance, personal recognition, sense of belonging,food, shelter and clothing, respect and unconditional love be the same ordifferent than ratings made by their non-gang counterparts? She states that the structure of the family isimportant with respect to gang membership and that young boys from brokenhomes, especially fatherless homes, are far more likely to join gangs thanboys from homes with other structural characteristics. 3. However, from the beginning of theEuropean settlement in America, there was gang-like activity, especially asclass distinctions developed (Olen, 1991). Olen, H. Comraderie that is made more intense by group activities, most ofwhich are antisocial, illegal, violent and criminal. Subject selection procedures will begin by using school records todevelop two lists of students: (1) a list of all known male gang membersbetween the ages of 14 and 18 years; and (2) a list of all male students atthe school who are between 14 and 18 years except for those who are gangmembers. M. 163-182). Haskell, M.R., & Yablonsky, L.J. Research in education (6th ed) Boston: Allyn &Bacon. Quicker, J.C. 7. All students will berandomly selected from the population of 14 - 18 year old males attendingAurora Central High School (ACHS), a population to which the researcher hasaccess. However, they believed that there were fewopportunities available for them to do so. Masters Abstracts International, 37(5), p. Miller, W. Because many of the earlier data on gangs was accumulated in directconjunction with street gang intervention programs in the 195 s and 195 s,they were tested in a manner far more demanding than today's approach togang research. During this decade,gangs acquired greater legal and political sophistication which led them toutilize minors more frequently in their criminal activities because it wasknown that minors would receive shorter sentences. & Walz, G. SUTTLES (1971)...CITED IN ORIGINAL PAPER BUT NOT PROVIDED IN THEREFERENCES. For those students who decline, anotherstudent will be randomly selected from the appropriate list in order tomaintain the sample size at 1 . Because the survey instrument is not a standardized questionnaire,several steps will be taken to boost its psychometric soundness, each ofthese being recommended by Best (1991). 4. Traditional Familyis defined as a group consisting of parents and their children, or group ofpeople closely related by blood, or consisting of individuals descendedfrom a common ancestry. La'zurs-White, T.R. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. The organizational structure (e.g., goals,roles, etc.), became more rigid. The findings of this researchshould be of great importance in improving the understanding of why highschool males join gangs and, through this improved understanding, helpingschool authorities and officials as well as relevant others to work withthose who have considered joining a gang or are currently in a gang. The second section examines literaturerelated to the thesis that gangs meet needs that are unmet by gang members'families. This was indicated in a study conducted by Jones (1999) who studiedboth gang and non-gang members in rural and urban populations usingqualitative methods. A comparison study of rural and urban gangs inAmerica. In OldEnglish, the term simply referred to a number of people who went aroundtogether as a group (Osman, 1999). In C.R. The conventional significance level isselected because the existing research provided no reason for the selectionof an unconventional level. Although school officials estimate a very small portion of theirtotal student body population to be gang affiliated, they also indicatedthat responding to gang activity requires excessive amounts of time andresources (Lal et al., 1993). 3. 87. 6. 3. According to Lal, Lal, and Achilles (1993), gangsnowadays consist of mostly male teens who live in and operate in certainneighborhoods. Relation of Gang Membership To UnMet Needs Why do young men join gangs? (1999). F.M. While all of these factors nodoubt play a role, Lal et. A hierarchial chain of command. Similarly, Quicker (1983) state that gangs have the following basictraits. 2. Los AngelesTimes, p. They arecommitted to defending one another, the territory, and the gang name in thestatus-setting fights that occur in school and in the street (Moore, 1993).During that time phase, Miller (1975) suggested that a youth gang is a self-forming association of peers bound together by mutual interest, withidentifiable leadership, well-developed lines of authority, and otherorganizational features, that act in concert to achieve a specific purposeof purposes which general include illegal activity and control over aparticular territory, facility or type of enterprise. Will gang members' ratings of the extent to which their familymeets their need for food, clothing and shelter be the same or higher thantheir ratings of the extent to which their family meets these needs? Identification with a territory. 122. (1991). (1927). Olen (199 ) reports that severalexplanations have been offered such as poverty, job stress, school stress,substance abuse, teen parents, being raised in a single parent family, lackof supervision, and a breakdown in community. However, the literature indicates that there is a gooddeal of variance in terms of any specific gang. La'Zurs-White (1999) also noted a connection between gang membershipand family dynamics. 6. To some extent, gangs have changed over the years. We enjoy the support and shared funthat such friendship brings, even the moments of mischief. However, by 1972, gangs were making headlinesagain as violence increased and drug use decreased. Cohesiveness and Purpose A key question here is: do all gangs really exhibit the foregoingcharacteristics? Moore, J. 2. Sacramento, CA:California Commission on Crime Control and Violence Prevention. Thestudy will use a researcher-designed survey that aims at having a sample ofgang members rate the extent to which the gang and their family meetsseveral needs. Summary of Significance of the Study The author chose to research the topic of whether or not gangs dotake the place of the traditional family because of the large number ofgangs found in high schools. Maintaining a safe and secure school wheregang activity is prevalent requires special tactics. The t-test is used because it is appropriate to comparingtwo samples (Linton & Gallo, 1975). 4. Lal, S.R., Lal, D., & Achilles, C.R. Movement through space as a unit. At one time, it referred to agroup of adult desperados bent on robbery and capable of cruelty andviolence (Moore, 1993). D. In order to understand the importance of the research, one need onlylook at the impact on children and adolescents of becoming gang members. B1. In the slightly broader definition at the time, a gang is afriendship group of adolescents who share common interest, with a more orless clearly defined territory in which most of the members live. These individuals possessed personality characteristics andbehavioral attitudes closely aligned with those of the violent psychopath,a condition that is said to be related to strong dysfunctionality incaregiving. Gang members tended to be fromthe poorer classes and were typically composed of members of the same raceor ethnic backgrounds. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to test the "traditional family" theoryof gang attraction. Asnoted by Huff (199 ), members of gangs typically do very poorly in school,learning little if anything. Moreover, 16 percent indicated that they had witnessed gangmembers engaging in threatening acts against a teacher. 2. Specifically, the study attempts to determine whetheror not gangs serve as a substitute for traditional families in terms ofmeeting the needs of these children and adolescents who compose itsmembership by collecting data from high school males who are gang membersto find out if they perceive the gang as meeting those basic needs thattend to be met by family. Identifiable leadership. This study focuses on gangs that fall within the scope of the lastprovided definition. Research Questions 1. The notion that gangs meet unmet family needs, if correct, means, nodoubt, that there can be some very strong bonds between gang members.However, research conducted by Hensell (1999) suggests that these bonds canbe broken. Lapin, L. Basedon the reviewed material, it can be concluded that there are certain setcharacteristics that are associated with gang membership but that there isa good deal of variance within these characteristics, variance that makesit difficult to generalize across findings as any given results may bespecific to the characteristics of the particular gang studied. Chapter Three METHODOLOGY Research Design This study consists of survey research which is defined by Best(1991) as a method of systematic data collection involving theadministration of questionnaires to specified populations or samples. 2. Also, gangs are nowmore prevalent in suburban communities. Over the years, there have been several theories of what attractsyoung people to gangs (Arthur & Erickson, 1992). In most cases, gang membership was almost entirely composed ofteens. Of these students, 5 willbe gang members and 5 will be non-gang members. A group of non-gang counterparts will be asked to provide ratings forthe extent to which they feel their families meet these same needs. 1374. The 196 s saw a decline in gang violence that appeared to beassociated with an increase in drug use. Will gang members' ratings of the extent to which their familymeets their need for a sense of belonging be the same or higher than theirratings of the extent to which their family meets these needs? In addition, their violent behavior is likely to cause theirown deaths, someone else's death, and/or to end them in jail by the timethey are sixteen or seventeen years of age. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. They tend to acquire much largersums of money than in the past from their two basic criminal activities,namely selling drugs and prostitution. They tend to be failures in engaging inpositive peer activities or relationships with any other students exceptgang members. CorrectionsToday, August, p. An organized group with a leader. (1999). While the theory that gangs substitute for familieshas been frequently cited in a great deal of the literature on gangs (Huff,199 ), there has not been a good deal of empirical work aimed at testingthe validity of the theory. The researcher will then contact each student, explain the nature ofthe study to him, stressing its importance. Turf 4. Miling. A unified group that usually remains together during peacefultimes as well as times of conflict. Conflict and planning.The results of this collective behavior, according to Thrasher (1927), thedevelopment of tradition, unreflective internal structure, solidarity,morale, group awareness, and attachment to a local territory. Gang members then mayconvince themselves that the gang gives them the unconditional love theydon't find at home. Huff(Ed.), Gangs in America (pp. Krisberg further states that young males in generalbelieve that "family" means sticking up for your own which is similar tothe behavior of gangs. (1999). Department of Justice: Washington,D.C. 2. The second draft will then be given to a small sample ofstudents (n=6) who will be asked to comment on its understandability andease of completion. ED 339 133). INTRODUCTION Chapter One Statement of the ProblemHistory of Gangs The term "gang" originally had no negative connotations. (p.1) Examples of family-related or family-like needs that gangs are saidto supply their members include: acceptance, recognition, a sense ofbelonging, status, power, discipline (or consistency), structure,unconditional love, shelter, food, clothing, nurturing activities, economicsupport and respect. We justwant to know what you think.----------------------------------------------------------------- PART I Please use the scale below to rate the extent to which you believethat being in a gang meets all of the needs listed below the scale: 5 = Meets this need to a Very Strong Extent 4 = Meets this need to a Strong Extent 3 = Meets this need to an Average Extent 2 = Meets this need only to A Small Extent 1 = Does not meet this need_____Accepts me for who I am_____Recognizes my skills, abilities, and talents_____Gives me a sense of belonging_____Gives me a sense of power_____Provides the right kind of discipline_____Provides a strong structure in terms of goals and roles_____Provides unconditional love_____Provides shelter, food, and clothing_____Provides economic support_____Provides respect================================================================= PART II Please use the scale below to rate the extent to which you believethat you feel that your family meets all of the needs listed below thescale: 5 = Meets this need to a Very Strong Extent 4 = Meets this need to a Strong Extent 3 = Meets this need to an Average Extent 2 = Meets this need only to A Small Extent 1 = Does not meet this need_____Accepts me for who I am_____Recognizes my skills, abilities, and talents_____Gives me a sense of belonging_____Gives me a sense of power_____Provides the right kind of discipline_____Provides a strong structure in terms of goals and roles_____Provides unconditional love_____Provides shelter, food, and clothing_____Provides economic support_____Provides respect__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The second set of analyses will all consist of t-test analyses aimedat comparing gang members gang and family ratings, and comparing the non-gang member group to the gang member group on the family ratings. Thornberry, T.P., Krohn, M.D., Lizotte, A.J., & Chard-Wierschem, D.(1993, February). Chicago, IL: University ofChicago Press.----------------------- 24 Huff, C.R. Understanding the nature of gangs as they were then iscritical to understanding their nature in contemporary times. "nothing is more important than the gang). Bastian, L. 2. (1994) Gangs in schools. 4. Juvenile delinquency.Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. (1993). Moreover, thereis evidence of ethnic and racial crossover in multiethnic neighborhoods.Further, there has been an insurgence of female gangs. A group whose members show unity through their language andclothing. In this regard, the term "gang"has had several meanings over the years. Conclusions This study's review of literature examined the literature related tothe nature of gangs and to the thesis that young males join gangs becausethe gang meets certain needs that are not met by their own families. (1992). A strong emphasis on loyalty and adherence to a strict gang code(i.e. Female participation in gangs. These early gangs banded together for protection or financial gain.In the 19th century, criminally-oriented gangs were first formed. Newbury Park, CA:Corwin Press. Burnett, G. Data Analyses Two types of analyses will be conducted in the study. Group members being of similar ethnic or racial backgrounds. Violence by youth gangs and youth groups as acrime problem in major american cities. Today, a gang is commonly defined infour ways: 1. OSMAN (1999)...CITED IN PROVIDED MATERIALS BUT REFERENCE NOTPROVIDED. Indeed, it is Krisberg's delineation of thecategories of needs that are perceived by gang members as being met by thegang rather than the family that will be used in the proposed study'ssurvey of gang members. The nationalityof the membership changed, becoming primarily non-white. According to Krisberg (1995), biological families have let down, letgo and pushed away many of the youths who join gangs. Seven decades of gangs. Where possible, any recommendations given by studentswill be incorporated into a third and final draft of the test instrument. The student will then be askedto participate in the study. Gilyard, F. ERIC Digest, 99.(ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. Sothat the study can be fully understood, this section of the study presentsa review of the pertinent research. Strong cohesiveness among members. Regarding the steps that will betaken, the first draft will be given to a panel of experts in the field whowill be asked to examine it and make recommendations for improving itsvalidity and reliability These recommendations will then be incorporated into a second draftof the instrument. & Taylor, B. This will allow for thedevelopment of a basic profile of the sample as a whole and the twosubgroups within it.Table 1Researcher-Designed Survey Instrument_________________________________________________________________ Thisstudy is interested in why people join gangs. 3. S.Department of Justice conducted a nationwide survey of students toascertain certain facts about school violence (Bastian & Taylor, 1991).This study reported that 15 percent of the students stated that gangs wereactive on their campus, engaging in such activities as intimidation,extortion, burglary, face-to-face confrontation, fights, and recruitmentrituals. Gang members' ratings of the extent to which the gang and the familymeets each of the listed needs will then be compared using a series of t-test analyses. 4. Drug involvementin gangs grew, becoming a public concern. Will gang members' ratings of the extent to which their familymeets their need for personal recognition be the same or higher than theirratings of the extent to which their family meets these needs? Masters Abstracts International, 38(1),p. (1991). Handbook on gangs inschools: Strategies to reduce gang-related activities. It was noted that although many of the differencesspotted between rural and urban gangs were expected, some important andunexpected differences did emerge. Ongoing recruitment efforts, many of which take place at school. In her exploratory study of the perceptions of adolescent gangmembers regarding their membership and involvement in urban street gangs,Hensell found that most gang members were interested in developingalternate lifestyles. But when doessuch a group cross the line and become a gang? Krisberg, S. 4. 1-3). p. Jones, D.G. (1982). Some large schooldistricts have followed the lead of local, state, and Federal agencies andformed task forces to tackle the problem. Best, J.W. A Gang Member will be defined as a person whobelongs to a group or organization given to lawlessness. (199 ). Frederic Thrasher (1927), in his study of more than 1,3 delinquentgang members in Chicago, noted that no two gangs are exactly alike;however, he noted that delinquent gangs do possess a number of qualities,as social collectives, that set them apart from other social groups.Thrasher also noted that the gang is a group originally formedspontaneously and then integrated through conflict, stating that in generalgangs can be characterized by the following types of behavior: 1. The role of juvenile gangs in facilitating delinquentbehavior. A specific group structure with goals, identified roles andresponsibilities that are clearly communicated to all gang members. 1. The practical statistician:Simplified handbook of statistics. Also, the survey instrument utilizesLikert-type scaling (summated rating scale with behavioral anchors) whichis considered to yield equal-interval data (Lapin, 199 ) and the t-test canbe validly used for this level of measurement (Linton & Gallo, 1975). Thecomparison of the non-gang members and gang members ratings of the extentto which their families meet the listed needs will also be made using aseries of t-tests. Moreover, serving aprison sentence would help boost the minor's reputation in the gang.Gangs in Modern Times What are modern gangs and who are their members? The first draft of this instrument ispresented in Table 1. (1975). Thrasher's workdid in fact set the tone for much of the further writings on the nature ofgangs over the next decades. Formal organizational structure. For example,Burnett and Walz (1999) point out that today's gangs tend to have youngeractive members (some as young as eight or nine years old). (1975). Nature of Gangs The literature on the nature of gangs differs depending upon howresearchers and theorists define the term. The first typewill consist of descriptive analyses (calculation of means, standarddeviations, frequencies, percentages, etc.) conducted to present basicstatistical information for all subjects on each question, for the gangmember group, and for the non-gang member group. The non-gangmembers in the sample will only be required to complete Part II. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. Definition of Terms At this point in the research, gangs will be defined as a group thathas a formal organizational structure, identifiable leadership, turf,cohesiveness, and purpose. 7. Decades of research have produced inconsistent answers.For example, some gangs have very little organizational structure; othersdo not have established leaders and turf may include identification andcontrol but not always. (1993). al (1993) state that most sociological thoughtholds that young males join gangs because they are looking for and findfulfillment of psychoemotional and physical needs unmet by their families,i.e., a need for a sense of belonging and security. After World War II, gang membership became younger. As notedin the "Research Design" section of the study, the t-test is selected asthe comparison statistic because it is appropriate for comparing two groupsand fits the level of measurement used on the survey instrument. 5. However, thereare indications that this claim may be far more true of urban gangs than ofrural gangs. In the twentieth century, the term "gangs" began totake on another meaning, often referring to a group of close associateswith no deviant or criminal connotations (Thrasher, 1927). 5. Where there was more drug use,there was less gang violence. Holmes Beach,FL: Learning Publications, Inc. The legacy of juvenile corrections. NY: Harcourt BraceJovanovich. This in turn limits theexisting knowledge in the area because frequently the findings of any givenstudy will differ depending upon the particular characteristics of the gangexamined. Introduction. Further, in an effort to get additional insightinto gang members' perceptions of the gang, meeting their needs, somecomparisons will be made between their perceptions and those of their non-gang counterparts. Gangs: the origins and impact of contemporary younggangs in the United states. She notes that often young high school males look togangs for many of the things they want from their families and otherfriends such as acceptance, recognition, a sense of belonging, status,power, discipline, structure, unconditional love, shelter, food, clothing,economic support and respect. This means that findings will not betermed "significant" unless only 5 out of 1 times or less they could havebeen obtained by chance alone. Hypotheses Many young men at Aurora Central High School join gangs to belong tofamily that will meet their basic needs for acceptance, recognition, asense of belonging, status, power, discipline, structure, unconditionallove, shelter, food, clothing, economic support, and respect---needs thatare not being met in the home. (1983). Leadership 3. The authors state that gangs' most frequently citedcharacteristics include: 1. In looking at cohesiveness, gang members have notalways been found to form close bonds and while usually the purpose ofgangs is to commit offenses of some sort, purpose itself is a state of mindthat is difficult for gang researchers to measure. Will gang members' ratings of the extent to which their familymeets their need for unconditional love be the same or higher than theirratings of the extent to which their family meets these needs? One of these theories isthat being a member of a gang is similar to being a member of a family.According to Burnett and Walz (1994), this theory holds that: ...the primary attraction of gangs is their ability to respond tostudent needs that are not otherwise being met; they often provide youthwith a sense of family and acceptance otherwise lacking in their lives. The collection of research and data have, however, givenvaluable information into defining "gangs." Generally, law enforcementexperts consider a gang to have: 1. Jones (1999) recommended that more comparativestudies be conducted in terms of family and family background differencesbetween urban and rural gangs. Moreover,the t-test is a sensitive statistic able to detect even small differencesbetween groups. In the 195 s, the image of gangs changed, this time focusing on largegroups of urban boys engaged primarily in violent conflict, fighting eachother in battles, or rumbles over territory or status, mush like the"Sharks" and the "Jets" in the play and movie "West Side Story" (Suttles,1971).
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