An Investigation of the Decision-Making Skills of At-Risk African American Male Youth

This study examines the relationship between decision-making skills and age among a sample of at-risk African American boys. African American male students (N = 217) between 8 and 14 years old comprised the sample. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Decision-Making Instrument was used to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of Negro education 1999, Vol.68 (2), p.154-163
Main Author: Okwumabua, Jebose O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescents
African American Students
African Americans
Age
Age Differences
Age groups
At risk youth
Behavior Patterns
Black people
Black Students
Boys
Children
Cognitive Development
Decision Making
Grade 2
Health Decision Making Index
High Risk Students
Males
Middle School Students
Middle Schools
Preventive medicine
Range errors
Self esteem
Tennessee
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Summary:This study examines the relationship between decision-making skills and age among a sample of at-risk African American boys. African American male students (N = 217) between 8 and 14 years old comprised the sample. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Decision-Making Instrument was used to gather information regarding students' level of decision-making skill and the most frequent types of error made by students in their decision-making processes. Findings suggest that participants were generally not efficacious in their ability to make decisions with a health or a social focus. Students made more errors involving "skipped steps" than any other error type, regardless of age. Prevention practitioners are encouraged to consider integrating decision-making skill, the stage of cognitive development, and behavioral dispositions in developing prevention programming for high-risk youth.
ISSN:0022-2984
2167-6437
DOI:10.2307/2668122