Gang Affiliation as a Measure of Social Structure in Social Structure Social Learning Theory

The current study seeks to evaluate the use of gang membership as a measure of social structure in social structure social learning theory. The Evaluation of Gang Resistance Education and Training Program in the United States, 1995-1999 dataset was used with structural equation modeling to test if inclusion of gang membership as a social structure variable was a better predictor of deviance than social learning elements alone. The analysis suggests that gang membership will have an impact on the mechanisms of social learning, supporting the use of gang membership as a measure of social structure.