An investigation of the decision-making skills of at-risk African American male youth

This study examines the relationship between decision-making skills and age among a sample of at-risk African American boys. African American male students (N = 217) between 8 and 14 years old comprised the sample. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Decision-Making Instrument was used to gather information regarding students\u27 level of decision-making skill and the most frequent types of error made by students in their decision-making processes. Findings suggest that participants were generally not efficacious in their ability to make decisions with a health or a social focus. Students made more errors involving skipped steps than any other error type, regardless of age. Prevention practitioners are encouraged to consider integrating decision-making skill, the stage of cognitive development, and behavioral dispositions in developing prevention programming for high-risk youth. Copyright © 2000, Howard University