The Effect of Database and Website Inconstancy on the Terrorism Field's Delineation

The often changing range of terrorism journals selected for indexing in various databases adds to the elasticity of this field's definition. The electronic databases as well as websites change their format and content quite often and this instability hampers the formation of a clear delineation of the disciplinary boundaries of terrorism. Nevertheless, the integration of electronic databases into terrorism research has exposed researchers to a large number of journals that deal with various aspects of terrorism, and the boundaries of this subject are continually expanding to encompass new sub-areas. In addition to the known core journals covering terrorism, many peripheral journals are emerging that are concerned with the dynamics of this field. The exposure of researchers to such a massive amount of information, print and electronic, demonstrates a marked knowledge growth in this area of study. However, the field could become so broad, even before reaching disciplinary maturation, that it could defy any attempt at delineation.‐     

ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND YOUTH GANG MEMBERSHIP: SELECTION AND SOCIALIZATION

We examine whether gang membership is associated with higher levels of delinquency because boys predisposed to delinquent activity are more likely than others to join. We use 10 years of longitudinal data from 858 participants of the Pittsburgh Youth Study to identify periods before, during and after gang membership. We build on prior research by controlling for ages and calendar time, by better accounting for gang memberships that occurred before the study began, and by using fixed effects statistical models. We find more evidence than has been found in prior studies that boys who join gangs are more delinquent before entering the gang than those who do not join. Even with such selective differences, however, we replicate research showing that drug selling, drug use, violent behaviors and vandalism of property increase significantly when a youth joins a gang. The delinquency of peers appears to be one mechanism of socialization. These findings are clearest in youth self-reports, but are also evident in reports from parents and teachers on boys' behavior and delinquency. Once we adjust for time trends, we find that the increase in delinquency is temporary, that delinquency falls to pre-gang levels when boys leave gangs.