Social Learning Treatment Within Juvenile Justice - A Meta-Analysis of Impact in the Natural Environment (From Youth Violence, P 24-39, 1986, Steven J Apter and Arnold P Goldstein, eds. - See NCJ-101447)

• NCJ Number: 101448
• Author(s): J P Mayer; L K Gensheimer; W S Davidson; R Gottschalk
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Following a review of behavioral approaches to the treatment of juvenile delinquency, an analysis is presented of 39 1971-82 studies evaluating the effects of social learning treatments on recidivism and behavioral and attitudinal variables.

Abstract

Both vote-count (positive, negative, no effect) and effect-size methods were employed in assessing outcomes. The typical study used an adjudicated male sample in a residential setting; treatment involved token economies, modeling, contracting, or other applications of social learning theory. The vote-count accumulation results agree with past reviews, suggesting that behavioral approaches were, for the most part, highly effective in modifying delinquents' behavior. The results of the effect-size analysis presented a more mixed picture. Although all mean effect sizes were positive, all but two of the reported confidence intervals included zero. Thus, while it appears that overall the treatments were moderately effective, this conclusion is moderated by the large effect-size variances and the broad confidence intervals. In addition, the analysis reveals that many of these studies suffer from methodological shortcomings, including poor internal validity and incomplete reporting of results. Tables, 48 references, and 32 citations of analyzed studies. (Author summary modified)