Document Detail


Impacts of metal detector use in schools: insights from 15 years of research.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21223277     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Multiple approaches exist, both in theory and in practice, to reduce young people's risk of violent victimization when they are in school. Among these approaches, a growing number of school districts are choosing to install metal detectors. We sought to review the literature available on the impacts of metal detectors on school violence and perceptions about school violence.
METHODS: We conducted an extensive literature search, including databases for the medical, public health, sociology, and political science literature. Of 128 papers that met our search criteria, 7 studies met inclusion criteria for the literature review.
RESULTS: Each of the papers reviewed utilized data that originated from self-report surveys. Four of the studies consisted of secondary analyses of national databases, with the other 3 utilizing local surveys. The studies varied as to the outcome, ranging from student/staff perceptions of safety at school to student self-reports of weapon carrying and/or victimization, and showed mixed results. Several studies suggested potential detrimental effects of metal detectors on student perceptions of safety. One study showed a significant beneficial effect, linking metal detector use to a decrease in the likelihood that students reported carrying a weapon while in school (7.8% vs 13.8%), without a change in weapon carrying in other settings or a decline in participation in physical fights.
CONCLUSION: There is insufficient data in the literature to determine whether the presence of metal detectors in schools reduces the risk of violent behavior among students, and some research suggests that the presence of metal detectors may detrimentally impact student perceptions of safety.
Authors:
Abigail Hankin; Marci Hertz; Thomas Simon
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of school health     Volume:  81     ISSN:  1746-1561     ISO Abbreviation:  J Sch Health     Publication Date:  2011 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-01-12     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376370     Medline TA:  J Sch Health     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  100-6     Citation Subset:  IM; N    
Copyright Information:
© Published 2011. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Affiliation:
Emory University, 49 Jesse Hill Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. ahankin@emory.edu
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