Thesis
Then and now: comparing juveniles' comprehension of the Miranda Warning in the 1970s and today
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jan 2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-2788
Abstract
In addition to use in research, Grisso's Instruments for Assessing Understanding and Appreciation of Miranda Rights (1998) have been used to help evaluate the validity of Miranda waivers in court proceedings and are commonly cited in testimony. Despite their extensive use, the admissibility of the instruments has been questioned in some cases because of the outdated vocabulary used and the assumption that Miranda comprehension has improved since the 1970s. To examine this assumption, the results of Grisso's 1970s study were compared to data gathered from 183 21st century juvenile offenders. Twenty-first century youth were tested using the Miranda Rights Comprehension Instruments-II. Results indicated that scores on the two measures were comparable, and that juveniles today do not have better understanding of their rights than their counterparts in the 1970s. In fact, on some measures of understanding they showed significantly worse understanding. Verbal IQ continued to be the strongest predictor of Miranda rights comprehension in the 21st century. As in 1970s study, no relationship between Miranda comprehension and previous experience with the police was observed.
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Details
- Title
- Then and now
- Creators
- Christina L. Riggs Romaine - DU
- Contributors
- Naomi E. Goldstein (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 2788; 991014632290804721