Administrative Discipline Contacts: A Review of the Literature

The authors systematically review the available research on administrative discipline contacts to (a) identify the domain variables (e.g., gender, ethnicity) that influence the use of administrative discipline contacts, (b) identify participant classification variables (e.g., antisocial) related to administrative discipline contacts, and (c) determine the validity of administrative discipline contacts. They drew from 20 independent samples published in 23 articles. A wide range of school (e.g., grade level, size) and student (e.g., achievement, abilities, socioeconomic status, ethnicity) domain variables appear to influence the use of administrative discipline contacts, whereas administrator/teacher (e.g., ethnicity, gender) and family (e.g., parenting style, education levels of parents) variables have less influence. Four participant classification variables appear to be related to administrative discipline contacts: participation in athletics; child neglect; antisocial behavior; and anecdotal suspension report. The concurrent and predictive validity of administrative discipline contacts appears to be relatively limited. The findings and future research needs are discussed.