MOST DELINQUENCY RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON WHAT WENT WRONG IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE OR ON WHAT IS WRONG WITH A CERTAIN ASPECT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THESE STUDIES IGNORE THE FACT THAT WELL OVER 50 PERCENT OF ALL CHILDREN FROM LOWER INCOME FAMILIES ARE NOT DELINQUENT, THAT A GREAT MAJORITY OF CHILDREN FROM BROKEN HOMES ARE NOT DELINQUENT, AND THAT WELL OVER HALF OF ALL JUVENILES WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM NEVER REAPPEAR IN THE COURTS. THE STUDY OF POSITIVE OUTCOME FOCUSES ON WHAT WENT RIGHT IN THE LIFE OF THE POSSIBLE DELINQUENT. IT FOCUSES ESPECIALLY ON THOSE FACTORS WHICH LEAD AN INDIVIDUAL CHARGED WITH DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR TO ALTER PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR. THIS POSITIVE APPROACH IS CALLED AN OUTGROWTH OF EVALUATION RESEARCH WHICH ASKS, 'WHAT WORKS FOR WHOM?' IT HAS BEEN FURTHERED BY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING PRIMARY DELINQUENCY-PREVENTION PROGRAMS. TWO RESEARCH MODELS ARE GIVEN FOR SUCH STUDIES. THE FIRST, THE 'LIFE EVENTS STUDY,' INVESTIGATES EXTERNAL FACTORS OR LIFE EVENTS WHICH HAVE A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE EFFECT ON AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS HAD REPEATED INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE SECOND, THE 'INDIVIDUAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES MODEL,' STUDIES INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS WHICH ENABLE AN INDIVIDUAL TO PROGRESS TO A POSITIVE OUTCOME. THE POTENTIAL OF THIS APPROACH IS DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)