Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1976

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

McCleary, Edward J.

Abstract

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.

Extent

155 p.

Comments

Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1976.|College of Education|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Thesis (Educat.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1976.

Identifier

FADT11697

Format

pdf

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