DIALOGUE AS A MODE OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

• NCJ Number: 47965
• Author(s): K E NIELSEN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION, CONFERENCE, APRIL 23-26, 1977, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Annotation

THE EFFECT OF DIALOG TRAINING, AS OPPOSED TO MONOLOG FORMS OF COMMUNICATION, IS EVALUATED FOR A JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. THE PROCESS RESULTS INDICATE IMPROVED ATTITUDES AND PROBLEMSOLVING IN SOME AREAS.

Abstract

THE THEORETICAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN DIALOG AND MONOLOG COMMUNICATION IS GIVEN IN DETAIL. THE COMPONENTS OF THE CONCEPT OF DIALOG, THE NATURE OF MONOLOG, AND SOME ASPECTS CONCERNING DIALOG AS A MEANS OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION ARE EXPLORED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT DIALOG TECHNIQUES WOULD IMPROVE PERSONALITY ASPECTS OF INMATES AND INCREASE THEIR TOLERANCE FOR DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTIONAL DIRECTIVES. IN THIS EXPERIMENT, 50 INMATES AND 50 STAFF PERSONNEL RECEIVED INTENSIVE TRAINING IN TECHNIQUES OF DIALOG COMMUNICATION. DURING THE PROJECT WHICH COVERED A 3-MONTH TIME PERIOD A CORRECTIONAL STAFF MEMBER WAS PAIRED WITH A JUVENILE INMATE BY LOTTERY. THE STAFF WAS TO ESTABLISH, AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, A DIALOGIC COMMUNICATION. ONCE A WEEK, THE PAIRS GROUPED WITH OTHER PAIRS IN 10-MEMBER ENCOUNTER GROUPS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES. THE PROCESS WAS EVALUATED THROUGH OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONNAIRES. THE NUMBER OF STAFF PERSONS WHO FELT THAT DIALOG WAS A WORKABLE COMMUNICATION PROCESS INCREASED FROM 28 PERCENT TO 52 PERCENT, WHILE THE PERCENTAGE OF INMATES WITH POSITIVE FEELINGS TOWARDS DIALOG ROSE FROM 11 TO 61 PERCENT. SIMILAR CHANGES IN ATTITUDE WERE INDICATED: STAFF AND INMATE APPRECIATION OF EACH OTHER'S SOCIAL NEEDS INCREASED, UNDERSTANDING OF INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS ENLARGED, AND AWARENESS OF THE STAFF'S DIRECTIVE NEEDS IN THE CORRECTION ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPED. INMATE ATTITUDES TOWARD STAFF CHANGED FROM A PRETEST HIGH OF 20 PERCENT FEELING HIGHLY FAVORABLE OR FAVORABLE TO A POST TEST HIGH OF 61 PERCENT. STAFF ATTITUDES WERE 53 PERCENT FAVORABLE PRETEST, AND INCREASED TO 74 PERCENT AFTER THE EXPERIMENT. THE PARTICIPANTS ALSO INDICATED THAT DIALOGIC COMMUNICATION MAY BE A MORE WORKABLE PROCESS FOR CREATING SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN IN THE CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT THAN FOR CREATING SOLUTIONS TO DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS. LITTLE EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM WAS FOUND. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)