NCJ Number
216821
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 57 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 286-296
Date Published
December 2006
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper highlights the shortcomings in the current post-treatment, quasi-experimental design primarily used to evaluate the effectiveness of various correctional education and vocational training programs.
Abstract
The research model currently used to evaluate most correctional education (CE) programming is limited to macro-variable assessment, which enhances the plausible threats of internal, statistical conclusion, construct, and external validity. The model has proven to be ineffective in accurately evaluating the impact of CE and vocational training programs. A new research model is suggested that would offer a broader perspective about the plausible effects of CE programs. The current research model for most correctional education is a post-treatment, quasi-experimental design, with one treatment and one control group, where the groups are released from prison and monitored for 1 to 3 years after release to determine the recidivism rate. This survival analysis model evaluates only macro-level variables and often discounts alternative factors which might have caused a CE effect to have been dampened. A more holistic approach, based initially on smaller samples and a qualitative, medical model would permit a social productivity assessment of the effectiveness of various CE and post-release programs. This paper argues for the more holistic approach to evaluate the effects of correctional education programming and a movement away from recidivism as the primary outcome variable. References