Abstract

This thesis explores shoplifting trends among college students reporting specific types of variables which distinguish attitudes about theft. Gender, age, care-givers income, hometown population and race explain differences and similarities relating rates of theft among student shoplifters. These variables reflect hypotheses that sufficiently draw comparisons between shoplifters and non-shoplifters, also attributing to motivations toward deviant acts. This is done by distributing questionnaires, which measures gender, size of campus, age, social class and other control variables, to students at Kent State University and the College of Wooster. Results show that the relationship between all of the variables with the exception of social class is insignificant at the .05 level. Few of the 309 students participating, acknowledge any shoplifting trends attributing to the insignificant levels of the data. The information compiled is useful for comparing the two institutions to theft. Future research is suggested, focusing on the development of new variables which may be discovered through the interview technique. One such variable might be GPA levels which may compare shoplifters from non-shoplifters predicting their shoplifting habits in regards to student intelligence. More emphasis might also be placed on informational factors within each institution producing further explanations of how institutions run.

Advisor

Blair, Robert

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Publication Date

1997

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 1997 Jillian L. Matheson