Examining Correlations Between Area Crime Rates, Daycare Center Licensing Violations, Caregiver Discipline Techniques, and the Deviant Behaviors of Preschoolers
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EXAMINING CORRELATIONS BETWEEN AREA CRIME RATES, DAYCARE CENTER LICENSING VIOLATIONS, CAREGIVER DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUES, AND THE DEVIANT BEHAVIORS OF PRESCHOOLERS By KELSEY N. HESS Bachelor of Science in Psychology Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 2013 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE December, 2015 EXAMINING CORRELATIONS BETWEEN AREA CRIME RATES, DAYCARE CENTER LICENSING VIOLATIONS, CAREGIVER DISCIPLINE TECCHNIQUES, AND THE DEVIANT BEHAVIORS OF PRESCHOOLERS Thesis Approved: Ronald R. Thrasher, Ph.D. Thesis Adviser Robert W. Allen, Ph.D. Mark E. Payton, Ph.D. ii Name: KELSEY N. HESS Date of Degree: DECEMBER, 2015 Title of Study: EXAMINING CORRELATIONS BETWEEN AREA CRIME RATES, DAYCARE CENTER LICENSING VIOLATIONS, CAREGIVER DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUES, AND THE DEVIANT BEHAVIORS OF PRESCHOOLERS Major Field: FORENSIC SCIENCE Abstract: This research examines correlations between area crime rates, daycare center licensing violations, caregiver discipline techniques, and the deviant behaviors of preschoolers. As gender roles in society continue to equate, it becomes increasingly necessary for children to attend daycare. Many of these children spend up to 30 hours a week in the daycare system, effectively making their daycare teachers co-parents. The disciplinary techniques of daycare employees, the crime rates in the area in which the facility is located, and the deviant behaviors of preschoolers are all factors which may affect psychosocial development in early childhood. It is important that we understand the effects that some of these daycare experiences can have on preschoolers during early childhood and beyond. Understanding these interactions on a deeper level may lend insight on how to avoid negative early childhood experiences that are shown to be statistically significant in contributing to deviant and delinquent behaviors. To explore these interactions, this research examines the activities of 30 Tulsa, Oklahoma daycare centers located in three crime rate areas as defined by the Tulsa Police Department. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services licensed daycare centers were selected according to the disciplinary nature of published OKDHS non- compliances, and placed in each category according to the crime rates within a five mile radius of each facility. The researcher visited each daycare center and observed the activities of the children and employees. Instances of deviant behaviors as well as good behaviors of preschoolers were recorded, as well as general notes about the interactions between the employees and the children, the state of the facility, and the apparent adherence or lack thereof to OKDHS rules and regulations. The data were analyzed and is presented in consideration of development of youth violence and school safety concerns. There was no statistically significant effect of area crime rates on daycare center licensing techniques, or the deviant behaviors of preschoolers. There were, however, qualitative findings that suggest that caregiver discipline techniques do vary across crime rate areas at DHS licensed daycare centers in Tulsa, OK. This finding indicates that there is an increased need for understanding the effects of discipline techniques on the psychosocial development of preschoolers within the daycare setting. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE....................................................................................6 DHS Rules and Regulations.....................................................................................6 Deviant Behavior Problems in Preschool Children .................................................9 Inconsistent Discipline ...........................................................................................12 Moffitt’s Developmental Perspective on Crime and Delinquency ........................13 Beccaria’s Theory of Crime and Punishment ........................................................16 Patterson’s Coercion Developmental Model .........................................................19 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs……………………………………………………21 Links between Maslow, Beccaria, Patterson, and Moffitt .....................................25 Community Violence .............................................................................................27 Violent Offending ..................................................................................................28 FBI Uniform Crime Report ....................................................................................31 Summary of Literature Review ..............................................................................33 III. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................34 Research Design ....................................................................................................36 Hypothesis .............................................................................................................41 Grounded Theory Approach .................................................................................42 Historical Analysis ................................................................................................42 Case Studies ..........................................................................................................43 Ethnographic Description ......................................................................................44 Statistical Analyses ...............................................................................................45 Summary of Methodology ....................................................................................47 iv Chapter Page IV. DATA ....................................................................................................................49 Tulsa Ethnographies...............................................................................................49 Low Crime Rate Area ......................................................................................49 Daycare Center 1 .........................................................................................49 Daycare Center 2 .........................................................................................50 Daycare Center 3 .........................................................................................52 Daycare Center 4 .........................................................................................55 Daycare Center 5 .........................................................................................58 Daycare Center 6 .........................................................................................62 Daycare Center 7 .........................................................................................66 Daycare Center 8 .........................................................................................68 Daycare Center 9 .........................................................................................70 Daycare Center 10 .......................................................................................72 Low Crime Rate Summary .............................................................................74 Moderate Crime Rate Area .............................................................................76 Daycare Center 11 .......................................................................................76 Daycare Center 12 .......................................................................................77 Daycare Center 13 .......................................................................................79 Daycare Center 14 .......................................................................................82 Daycare Center 15 .......................................................................................85 Daycare Center 16 .......................................................................................89 Daycare Center 17 .......................................................................................91 Daycare Center 18 .......................................................................................94 Daycare Center 19 .......................................................................................96 Daycare Center 20 .......................................................................................98 Moderate Crime Rate Summary ...................................................................100 High Crime Rate Area ..................................................................................102 Daycare Center 21 .....................................................................................102 Daycare Center 22 .....................................................................................105 Daycare Center 23 .....................................................................................106 Daycare Center 24 .....................................................................................108 Daycare Center 25 .....................................................................................110 Daycare Center 26 .....................................................................................113 Daycare Center 27 .....................................................................................116