EVALUATIVE RESEARCH IN THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD - 'AN ELUSIVE PARADISE'

• NCJ Number: 59939
• Journal: Canadian Criminology Forum Volume: 1, INTRODUCTORY ISSUE Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 39-46
• Author(s): D TREVISIOL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Toronto
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE SATISFIED IN ORDER TO ASSURE THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH IN CORRECTIONS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND ISSUES IN EVALUATIVE RESEARCH ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE NATURE OF EVALUATION AS A JUDGMENTAL PROCESS IS CONSIDERED, TOGETHER WITH IMPEDIMENTS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION THEORY. THE TREND TOWARD A SYSTEMS APPROACH, AS OPPOSED TO A GOALS APPROACH, TO EVALUATING PROGRAMS IS NOTED. THE COMPLEXITY OF ETHICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING OFFENDER TREATMENT AND THE ADVANTAGES OF INVOLVING OFFENDERS MORE DIRECTLY IN THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ASSESSMENT OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED. THE FOLLOWING EVALUATIVE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED: (1) A DEFINITION OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE THAT PROVIDES A VALID, RELIABLE MEASUREMENT OF TREATMENT OUTCOME; (2) ADEQUATE DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS; (3) A HIGH DEGREE OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN A PROGRAM'S CONCEPT AND ITS OPERATIONS; (4) OBJECTIVITY, ATTAINABILITY, CONTINUITY, AND UTILITY OF CRITERIA USED TO MEASURE TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS; (5) RANDOM DIVISION OF SUBJECTS INTO COMPARABLE TREATMENT AND CONTROL GROUPS; (6) COMPARISON OF BEFORE AND AFTER MEASURES FOR BOTH TREATMENT AND CONTROL GROUPS; (7) CHOICE OF A RESEARCH DESIGN THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO THE DATA TO BE COLLECTED, THE TYPE OF PROGRAM UNDER STUDY, AND THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM; (8) PROVISIONS FOR FOLLOWUP--A DELAYED MEASURE FOR BOTH TREATMENT AND CONTROL GROUPS; (9) REPLICABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE TREATMENT EFFECT; AND (10) ROUTINIZATION OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS. EACH OF THE REQUIREMENTS, TOGETHER WITH OBSTACLES TO ITS ACHIEVEMENT, IS DISCUSSED. FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR EVALUATIVE RESEARCH IN CORRECTIONS ARE OUTLINED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR BETTER DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.--IN ENGLISH, WITH A SUMMARY IN FRENCH. (LKM)