NCJ Number
54072
Date Published
1978
Length
232 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EVALUATES THE SURVEY-GUIDED DEVELOPMENT PROCESS USED IN 12 MICHIGAN AND OHIO COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS DESIGNED TO BRING PROGRAM CLIMATES CLOSER TO CLIENT IDEALS.
Abstract
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INVOLVES FOUR BASIC STEPS: (1) ASSESSMENT OF PARTICIPANTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PRESENT PROGRAM CLIMATE, (2) FEEDBACK OF CLIENT SURVEY DATA REGARDING DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN PERCEPTIONS OF REAL AND IDEAL PROGRAMS, (3) PARTICIPATORY PROBLEMSOLVING AND GOAL SETTING BY MEMBERS WITHIN THE PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS IDEAL, AND (4) CONTINUAL REASSESSMENT OF THIS INTERSECTION TO MONITOR PROGRESS. THE INTERVENTION PROCESS SUGGESTS THAT, IF PARTICIPANTS ATTAIN GOALS SET FOR THEMSELVES, RELATED AREAS OF PROGRAM CLIMATE AND SATISFACTION WITH THE PROGRAM CLIMATE WILL IMPROVE. THESE ORGANIZATIONAL-CLIMATE CHANGES SHOULD AFFECT INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL TREATMENT OUTCOMES, NAMELY SATISFACTION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTITUDES. YOUTHS IN THE 12 RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO TREATMENT AND CONTROL CONDITIONS, AND PRETEST AND POSTTESTING AND QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS WERE USED FOR ASSESSING PROGRAM EFFECTS IN INDIVIDUAL HOMES AND IN THE HOMES AS A WHOLE. A CASE STUDY AND PROCESS ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF INTERVENTION IN A SINGLE EXPERIMENTAL HOME IS ALSO PRESENTED. RESULTS SHOW THAT THE SURVEY-GUIDED DEVELOPMENT PROCESS HELPS SOME GROUP HOMES IN THE SAMPLE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, SET GOALS, AND BRING THEIR PROGRAM CLIMATES CLOSER TO THEIR OWN IDEALS. AT LEAST TWO FEATURES OF HOMES THAT CAN IMPEDE PROBLEMSOLVING AND GOAL ATTAINMENT ARE IDENTIFIED: LACK OF STABILITY, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO STAFF TURNOVER, AND LACK OF CONTROL OVER DECISIONMAKING. NO CHANGES IN INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL MEASURES AND YOUTHS WERE DETECTED. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.