Definitional and measurement issues in the study of community violence among children and youths

Scholarly attention to community violence exposure among children and youths has rapidly emerged over the past decade as recent data has revealed a problem of widespread proportions. While often profoundly consequential, the problem has not yet been well-understood or clearly defined, both conceptually and operationally. This article examines definitional and measurement complexities in the emerging study of community violence exposure among the young. In particular, it examines what is denoted and connoted by the terms "community" and "violence" in studies of community violence exposure, as well as the difficulties existing studies present in seeking to capture a clear understanding of the problem. A set of recommendations for addressing definitional and operatonal difficulties is offered toward promoting a more systematic effort in studying the problem and its consequences.