The article focuses on the identification of the respondent as a gang member in terms of operationalization of a gang definition. First part of the text is devoted to International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-2), problems of the gang definition in this research and its operationalization by Eurogang group.
During the data analysis we try to analyze this definition in detail. We focus on two basic moments related to the gang membership: understanding the word "gang" and the word "unlawful" or "illegal" by respondents.
On the basis of respondents' inconsistent responses we suggest a typology of gangs.